Prescot Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Prescot’s crime picture in January 2026, accounting for 45.5% of all reported crimes. At 8.0 per 1,000 residents, the area’s crime rate is 17.6% above the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, highlighting a significant divergence from national trends. This spike in violent crime contrasts with lower-than-average rates for property crimes like burglary and vehicle crime, which are 64% and 46% below UK averages respectively. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with shorter days and reduced retail footfall—likely contributes to the elevated levels of violence and public order offences. Public order crimes alone are 162% above the UK average, suggesting a distinct local dynamic that may relate to the built-up area’s density and social interactions. Anti-social behaviour, while still a concern, is 14% below the UK average, potentially reflecting community initiatives or policing strategies that mitigate such incidents. The dominance of violent crime here is consistent with Prescot’s status as a built-up area within Knowsley, where population density and proximity to urban centres may heighten interpersonal tensions during colder months. These patterns underscore the need for targeted interventions in high-risk categories while leveraging the relatively lower rates in property crime to inform broader public safety strategies.

January 2026 saw a 38.7% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 106 to 147 incidents—a category that is 48% above the UK average. Concurrently, public order offences surged by 91.7%, jumping from 24 to 46 cases, making this category 162% above the UK average. These sharp increases suggest a shift in crime dynamics, with violent and disorderly conduct becoming more pronounced compared to previous months. Meanwhile, burglary dropped by 44.4% (9 to 5 cases), and criminal damage and arson fell by 40.7% (27 to 16), indicating potential success in addressing property crime through recent measures. The stark contrast between rising violent crime and falling property crime highlights a shift in the crime mix, with 62% of January’s crimes now falling under violent categories versus 38% in January 2025. For residents, the 45.5% share of violence and sexual offences is a critical insight, suggesting that community safety efforts should prioritise interventions in this area. The 162% above UK average for public order offences also warrants attention, as it reflects a localised challenge that may require tailored policing or community engagement strategies.

Prescot’s crime rate in January 2026 (8.0 per 1,000) marks an 8.4% increase from the previous month’s rate of 7.4 per 1,000, reflecting a growing trend in reported incidents. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 10 crimes per day, a figure that remains consistent with the built-up area’s population density and urban characteristics. Over the course of January, one reported crime occurred for every 124 residents—a monthly exposure rate that, while seemingly low, underscores the cumulative impact of persistent crime trends. When scaled to Prescot’s population of 40,205, this translates to 323 total crimes, with the majority concentrated in violent and public order categories. The 17.6% gap between Prescot’s rate and the UK average highlights a localised challenge, though this is partially offset by lower-than-average rates in property crimes such as burglary (64% below UK levels) and vehicle crime (46% below). This divergence suggests that while Prescot faces elevated risks in certain categories, its overall crime profile is not uniformly worse than the national average. For residents, the 8.0 per 1,000 figure serves as a benchmark for understanding local crime trends in the context of both national comparisons and internal shifts between January 2025 and January 2026.