Crime in Prescot: statistics, rates and trends

4,129 crimes were recorded in Prescot in the 12 months to July 2026, 100.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 10% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,664 reports (40% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Prescot has the 342nd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Prescot was highest in the year to July 2022 (4,425 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (3,607). Over the whole period it rose 2%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Prescot over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, public order, drugs.

The largest increases were in shoplifting (+76%) and possession of weapons (+39%). The largest falls were in other theft (-26%) and criminal damage and arson (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Prescot

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Prescot recorded 1,664 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 40.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Prescot

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Prescot recorded 467 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 76% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Prescot

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Prescot recorded 463 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 11.2% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Prescot

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Prescot recorded 416 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 10.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Prescot

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Prescot recorded 350 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Prescot

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Prescot recorded 305 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Prescot

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Prescot recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Prescot

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Prescot recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Prescot

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Prescot recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Prescot

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Prescot recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Prescot

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Prescot recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Prescot

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Prescot recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Prescot

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Prescot recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Prescot

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Prescot recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Prescot, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Prescot.

4 areas within Prescot, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Prescot North had the highest rate (142.3 per 1,000) and Rainhill the lowest (55.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Prescot over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Prescot over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Prescot has an estimated population of 40,910. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Prescot sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Prescot. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.