Macclesfield Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Macclesfield’s crime rate for February 2026 stands at 6.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 3.1% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This slight advantage over national figures is tempered by the nature of the crimes reported, which reveal a distinct local profile. Violence and sexual offences dominate the monthly tally, accounting for 47.1% of all incidents and surpassing the UK average by 25%. Public order offences also feature prominently, with a 95% gap above the national average, potentially linked to the area’s characteristics as a built-up area within Cheshire East, where community interactions and local events may contribute to such incidents. Shoplifting, while slightly above the UK average by 3%, remains a concern in retail hubs, suggesting that the town’s commercial activity drives this category. The seasonal context of February—a month marked by reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may explain some of the lower overall crime rate, though the persistence of violent and public order crimes indicates challenges that may not be fully mitigated by seasonal trends. The data also highlights a marked contrast between the area’s overall rate and the specific categories that exceed national averages, illustrating the complexity of interpreting crime statistics through a local lens.

February 2026 saw a 36.8% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from 19 to 26 incidents, a trend that may reflect seasonal factors such as colder weather and potential neglect of maintenance in residential and commercial properties. Simultaneously, possession of weapons surged by 100%, with two incidents reported in the month—though this remains a small absolute number, it signals a sharp rise that warrants attention. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 57.1%, from seven to three incidents, potentially linked to reduced outdoor activity and fewer opportunities for theft in colder conditions. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 36%, from 25 to 16 cases, suggesting that community efforts or seasonal changes may have contributed to this decline. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 47.1% of all crimes, a figure 25% above the UK average, underscoring a specific challenge in this category that contrasts with the area’s overall lower crime rate.

Macclesfield's crime rate in February 2026 (6.2 per 1,000) marks a 9.8% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 6.8 per 1,000, reflecting a notable shift in local patterns. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 162 residents, placing the area’s monthly exposure in a context that suggests a relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 12 crimes per day, a figure that aligns with the seasonal lull typical of February, a month characterised by reduced outdoor activity and pre-spring inactivity. This rate, when scaled to the local population of 53,403, indicates that residents face a proportionally lower risk of encountering crime than the UK average, though this must be balanced against the specific types of crime that dominate the local landscape. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while the overall rate is below the national average, the distribution of crime types may influence perceptions of safety differently than raw numbers alone.