Crime in Southport: statistics, rates and trends
7,654 crimes were recorded in Southport in the 12 months to July 2026, 80.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Southport at a glance
- Crime trends in Southport
- Types of crime in Southport
- Southport compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Southport
- Streets with the most crime in Southport
- What happened after crimes were reported in Southport
- Population and deprivation in Southport
- Questions about crime in Southport
- About this data
7,654 crimes were recorded in Southport in the 12 months to July 2026, 80.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,269 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Southport has the 604th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Southport | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 7,654 | 24,388 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 80.6 | 85.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 94,908 | 286,281 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Southport was highest in the year to July 2022 (9,942 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (7,654). Over the whole period it fell 13%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 7,654 | 80.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 8,042 | 84.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 8,026 | 84.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 8,986 | 94.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 9,942 | 104.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 9,001 | 94.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 8,315 | 87.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 8,401 | 88.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 8,773 | 92.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 769 |
| June 2026 | 650 |
| May 2026 | 656 |
| April 2026 | 681 |
| March 2026 | 608 |
| February 2026 | 565 |
| January 2026 | 531 |
| December 2025 | 636 |
| November 2025 | 601 |
| October 2025 | 629 |
| September 2025 | 631 |
| August 2025 | 697 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Southport 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 public order, drugs.
The largest increases were in other theft (+12%). The largest falls were in burglary (-27%) and other crime (-19%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,269 | 34.4 | 1.01 | -4% |
| Public order | 843 | 8.9 | 1.34 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 751 | 7.9 | 0.52 | +10% |
| Shoplifting | 699 | 7.4 | 0.89 | -11% |
| Drugs | 495 | 5.2 | 1.60 | -18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 491 | 5.2 | 0.76 | -6% |
| Other theft | 421 | 4.4 | 0.69 | +12% |
| Vehicle crime | 177 | 1.9 | 0.38 | -5% |
| Burglary | 151 | 1.6 | 0.45 | -27% |
| Other crime | 141 | 1.5 | 0.70 | -19% |
| Possession of weapons | 64 | 0.7 | 0.69 | +3% |
| Robbery | 64 | 0.7 | 0.50 | +2% |
| Bicycle theft | 56 | 0.6 | 0.72 | -18% |
| Theft from the person | 32 | 0.3 | 0.20 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Southport
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Southport recorded 3,269 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 42.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Southport
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Southport recorded 843 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Southport
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Southport recorded 751 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Southport
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Southport recorded 699 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Southport
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Southport recorded 495 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Southport
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Southport recorded 491 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Southport
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Southport recorded 421 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Southport
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Southport recorded 177 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Southport
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Southport recorded 151 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 27% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Southport
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Southport recorded 141 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Southport
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Southport recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Southport
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Southport recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Southport
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Southport recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Southport
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Southport recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Southport, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Southport.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Southport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks | 226 | 44.1 | -45% |
| Formby | 1,155 | 50.7 | -37% |
| Burscough | 755 | 73.6 | -9% |
| Ormskirk | 1,494 | 49.0 | -39% |
| Tarleton and Hesketh Bank | 350 | 37.2 | -54% |
| Lytham St Anne's | 3,420 | 78.1 | -3% |
| Lydiate | 305 | 36.6 | -55% |
| Warton (Fylde) | 339 | 58.5 | -27% |
7 areas within Southport, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Duke's had the highest rate (209.6 per 1,000) and Meols the lowest (38.9). 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 Southport over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 318 |
| On or near Supermarket | 282 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 254 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 189 |
| On or near Glebe Place | 163 |
| On or near Southport | 128 |
| On or near Bus/Coach Station | 123 |
| On or near Hospital | 120 |
| On or near West Street | 112 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 90 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Southport 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,911 | 38.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,858 | 24.3% |
| Not recorded | 751 | 9.8% |
| Under investigation | 731 | 9.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 544 | 7.1% |
| Local resolution | 256 | 3.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 196 | 2.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 173 | 2.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 118 | 1.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 48 | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 42 | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 24 | 0.3% |
Southport has an estimated population of 94,908. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Southport sits in decile 5.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Southport |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.7% |
| Social rented homes | 7.6% |
| Private rented homes | 23.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 6.9% |
Is Southport a safe place to live?
Southport recorded 80.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Southport?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,269 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (843).
Is crime in Southport going up or down?
Recorded crime in Southport was down 5% on the year before: 7,654 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 8,042 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Southport?
Southport is policed by Merseyside. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Southport. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.