Crime in West Kirby: statistics, rates and trends
627 crimes were recorded in West Kirby in the 12 months to July 2026, 46.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in West Kirby at a glance
- Crime trends in West Kirby
- Types of crime in West Kirby
- West Kirby compared with nearby towns
- Areas within West Kirby
- Streets with the most crime in West Kirby
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Kirby
- Population and deprivation in West Kirby
- Questions about crime in West Kirby
- About this data
627 crimes were recorded in West Kirby in the 12 months to July 2026, 46.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 220 reports (35% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, West Kirby has the 1,218th highest crime rate.
| Measure | West Kirby | Wirral | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 627 | 26,231 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 46.3 | 79.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +12% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 13,535 | 328,873 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in West Kirby was highest in the year to July 2018 (990 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (562). Over the whole period it fell 37%, 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 | 627 | 46.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 562 | 41.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 663 | 49.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 825 | 61.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 848 | 62.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 951 | 70.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 752 | 55.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 925 | 68.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 990 | 73.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 68 |
| June 2026 | 49 |
| May 2026 | 76 |
| April 2026 | 56 |
| March 2026 | 62 |
| February 2026 | 36 |
| January 2026 | 51 |
| December 2025 | 40 |
| November 2025 | 39 |
| October 2025 | 44 |
| September 2025 | 59 |
| August 2025 | 47 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Kirby 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. The largest increases were in shoplifting (+64%) and public order (+32%).
The largest falls were in other theft (-47%) and criminal damage and arson (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 220 | 16.3 | 0.47 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 128 | 9.5 | 0.62 | +13% |
| Public order | 62 | 4.6 | 0.69 | +32% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 3.4 | 0.41 | +64% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 45 | 3.3 | 0.49 | -24% |
| Burglary | 27 | 2.0 | 0.56 | +50% |
| Other theft | 27 | 2.0 | 0.31 | -47% |
| Other crime | 21 | 1.6 | 0.73 | +110% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 1.3 | 0.27 | +100% |
| Drugs | 16 | 1.2 | 0.36 | +0% |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.4 | 0.33 | +20% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.4 | 0.45 | +400% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.4 | 0.38 | +67% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.04 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in West Kirby
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Kirby recorded 220 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 35.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in West Kirby
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Kirby recorded 128 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 20.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in West Kirby
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Kirby recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in West Kirby
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Kirby recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 64% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in West Kirby
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Kirby recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in West Kirby
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Kirby recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in West Kirby
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Kirby recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in West Kirby
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Kirby recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 110% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in West Kirby
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Kirby recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in West Kirby
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Kirby recorded 16 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in West Kirby
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Kirby recorded 6 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 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in West Kirby
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Kirby recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 400% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in West Kirby
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Kirby recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in West Kirby
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Kirby recorded 1 report 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 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to West Kirby, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Kirby.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoylake | 347 | 57.0 | +23% |
| Greasby | 258 | 27.3 | -41% |
| Heswall | 994 | 33.9 | -27% |
| Birkenhead | 13,317 | 116.3 | +151% |
| Wallasey | 7,028 | 80.5 | +74% |
| Bagillt | 475 | 87.1 | +88% |
| Holywell (Flintshire) | 981 | 112.9 | +144% |
| Neston (Cheshire West and Chester) | 744 | 51.0 | +10% |
1 areas within West Kirby, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. West Kirby and Thurstaston had the highest rate (31.7 per 1,000) and West Kirby and Thurstaston the lowest (31.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Kirby and Thurstaston | Neighbourhood | 13,146 | 417 | 31.7 |
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 West Kirby over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Salisbury Avenue | 44 |
| On or near Supermarket | 33 |
| On or near Parking Area | 30 |
| On or near B5139 | 28 |
| On or near Acacia Grove | 27 |
| On or near Shrewsbury Road | 25 |
| On or near West Kirby | 19 |
| On or near Sandlea Park | 14 |
| On or near Victoria Drive | 12 |
| On or near Bridge Road | 10 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Kirby 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 | 184 | 29.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 167 | 26.6% |
| Not recorded | 128 | 20.4% |
| Under investigation | 70 | 11.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 4.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 2.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 1.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 1.4% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.2% |
West Kirby has an estimated population of 13,535. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Kirby sits in decile 8.1, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | West Kirby |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 55.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 78.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.5% |
| Private rented homes | 15.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.1 |
Is West Kirby a safe place to live?
West Kirby recorded 46.3 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 West Kirby?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 220 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (128).
Is crime in West Kirby going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Kirby was up 12% on the year before: 627 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 562 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers West Kirby?
West Kirby 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 West Kirby. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.