Crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire): statistics, rates and trends
707 crimes were recorded in Whitchurch (Shropshire) in the 12 months to August 2026, 69.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire) at a glance
- Crime trends in Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- Types of crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- Whitchurch (Shropshire) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- Streets with the most crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- Demographics of Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- Questions about crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (330), anti-social behaviour (95) and shoplifting (72) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 789th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Whitchurch (Shropshire) | Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 707 | 19,214 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 69.3 | 57.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -11% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 10,209 | 332,455 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire) of any year here (707 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 39%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 707 | 69.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 797 | 78.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 839 | 82.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 927 | 90.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 914 | 89.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 950 | 93.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 931 | 91.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,018 | 99.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,154 | 113.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 63 |
| July 2026 | 56 |
| June 2026 | 63 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 52 |
| March 2026 | 59 |
| February 2026 | 52 |
| January 2026 | 58 |
| December 2025 | 63 |
| November 2025 | 62 |
| October 2025 | 68 |
| September 2025 | 52 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and public order (49% below) and other theft (41% below) were well below it. On the year before, public order fell from 57 to 35 and anti-social behaviour fell from 138 to 95.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 330 | 32.3 | 34.2 | +12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 95 | 9.3 | 15.4 | -31% |
| Shoplifting | 72 | 7.1 | 8.5 | -26% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 57 | 5.6 | 6.7 | -20% |
| Other theft | 39 | 3.8 | 6.4 | -26% |
| Public order | 35 | 3.4 | 6.7 | -39% |
| Burglary | 24 | 2.4 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 15 | 1.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 14 | 1.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Whitchurch (Shropshire); the highest is Wrexham (155.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Shavington (42.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Whitchurch (Shropshire) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wem | 444 | 70.2 | +1% |
| Market Drayton | 872 | 68.0 | -2% |
| Nantwich | 1,655 | 79.3 | +15% |
| Ellesmere | 295 | 57.9 | -16% |
| Shavington | 279 | 42.5 | -39% |
| Crewe | 8,050 | 105.4 | +52% |
| Wrexham | 7,102 | 155.8 | +125% |
| Rhosllannerchrugog | 941 | 82.6 | +19% |
Of the 3 areas within Whitchurch (Shropshire), Whitchurch North had the highest crime rate (82.1 per 1,000) and Whitchurch South the lowest (54.0).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitchurch North | Neighbourhood | 5,286 | 434 | 82.1 |
| Whitchurch West | Neighbourhood | 3,655 | 213 | 58.3 |
| Whitchurch South | Neighbourhood | 2,982 | 161 | 54.0 |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Whitchurch (Shropshire) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” and “Supermarket” (57 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 57 |
| On or near Supermarket | 57 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 36 |
| On or near B5398 | 34 |
| On or near Waterfront View | 34 |
| On or near Church Street | 19 |
| On or near Yardington | 18 |
| On or near High Street | 14 |
| On or near Brownlow Street | 13 |
| On or near Mainwaring Drive | 12 |
Of the 612 crimes in Whitchurch (Shropshire) with a recorded outcome, 22% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 95 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 287 | 46.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 132 | 21.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 89 | 14.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 31 | 5.1% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Whitchurch (Shropshire) has an estimated population of 10,209 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.3%, against 7.9%), an older population (25%, against 19%) and more retired residents (28%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Whitchurch (Shropshire) average decile 5.6 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Whitchurch (Shropshire) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Whitchurch (Shropshire) a safe place to live?
Whitchurch (Shropshire) recorded 69.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 789th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 330 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (95).
Is crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Whitchurch (Shropshire) was down 11% on the year before: 707 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 797 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Whitchurch (Shropshire)?
About 10,209 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Whitchurch (Shropshire)?
Whitchurch (Shropshire) is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.