Crime in Prestatyn: statistics, rates and trends

1,403 crimes were recorded in Prestatyn in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 546 reports (39% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Prestatyn has the 521st highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Prestatyn was highest in the year to July 2019 (2,209 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,403). Over the whole period it fell 20%, 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 Prestatyn 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 anti-social behaviour.

The largest falls were in shoplifting (-37%) and criminal damage and arson (-21%).

Violence and sexual offences in Prestatyn

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Prestatyn recorded 546 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 38.9% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Prestatyn

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Prestatyn recorded 320 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 22.8% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Prestatyn

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Prestatyn recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Prestatyn

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Prestatyn recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Prestatyn

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Prestatyn recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Prestatyn

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Prestatyn recorded 84 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Prestatyn

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Prestatyn recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 107% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Prestatyn

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Prestatyn recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Prestatyn

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Prestatyn recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Prestatyn

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Prestatyn recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Prestatyn

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Prestatyn recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Prestatyn

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Prestatyn recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Prestatyn

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Prestatyn recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Prestatyn

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Prestatyn recorded 2 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 up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

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

4 areas within Prestatyn, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Prestatyn East had the highest rate (124.3 per 1,000) and Prestatyn South West the lowest (58.3). 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 Prestatyn over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Prestatyn 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.

Prestatyn has an estimated population of 16,215. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Prestatyn sits in decile 5.5, 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 Prestatyn. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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