Prescot Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In February 2024, Prescot's crime profile was defined by a pronounced imbalance between violent and property crimes, with the former accounting for over 40% of all reported incidents. The overall crime rate (7.0 per 1,000) placed the area 1.4% below the UK average, a marginally safer position that belies the stark regional disparities in specific categories. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, with 123 incidents recorded (3.1 per 1,000), a rate 24% above the UK average. This figure suggests a concentration of interpersonal conflict or targeted violence in the area, possibly linked to local demographics or environmental factors. Public order offences (31 incidents, 0.8 per 1,000) also exceeded UK levels by 63%, indicating challenges in managing disruptive behaviour in public spaces. Meanwhile, property crimes remained relatively low, with shoplifting (19 incidents, 0.5 per 1,000) slightly below the UK average (0.5 per 1,000). The seasonal context of February—a winter month with reduced outdoor activity—likely contributed to the lower overall crime rate, though the persistence of violent offences suggests underlying issues that may require targeted interventions. The area's crime picture, while slightly better than the national average, highlights the need for focused efforts to address the overrepresentation of violent and public order crimes.

February 2024 saw a notable 100% increase in possession of weapons, rising from zero to two incidents, and a similar surge in robbery, which doubled from zero to three. These spikes, while small in absolute terms, highlight specific vulnerabilities in the area's security landscape. The crime mix shifted decisively towards violent crime, with violence and sexual offences (43.5% of all crimes) significantly outpacing property crimes (26.8%). This imbalance is stark: violent crime rates in Prescot (3.1 per 1,000) are 24% above the UK average for this category, while shoplifting (0.5 per 1,000) is 7% below the UK average (0.5 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour, however, fell by 40% compared to January, a decline that may reflect the seasonal slowdown in public gatherings during winter. The contrast between rising weapon possession and falling anti-social behaviour illustrates the complexity of local crime dynamics, with some categories responding to seasonal factors while others remain stubbornly elevated.

Prescot's crime rate in February 2024 (7.0 per 1,000) marked a 2.4% decrease from the previous month's 7.2 per 1,000, reflecting a slight downward trend. On a daily basis, the area saw an average of 10 crimes reported each day, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for local residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 142 residents, a monthly exposure rate that aligns with the area's population of 40,205. This statistic, while low in absolute terms, underscores the relatively sparse distribution of crime across the community. The reduction in anti-social behaviour (-40%) and other theft (-31.6%) contrasts with the rise in possession of weapons (+100%) and robbery (+100%), suggesting shifting patterns in criminal activity. These changes, while modest, may reflect seasonal lulls or localized factors influencing behaviour during February's typically subdued outdoor environment.