Local Area Crime Statistics

Sefton Crime Rate

Crime is stable and MODERATE in Sefton

Sefton's crime rate is 84.2 per 1,000, lower than the UK average. The area has a good safety score of 80/100.

Overall Crime Rate

84.2
per 1,000 people
10% lower than UK avg

Property Crime Rate

23.3
per 1,000 people
30% lower than UK avg

Based on population of 286,281 over 12 months

Crime Statistics Summary for Sefton

Data last updated: September 2025. Source: Police.uk, ONS, Home Office.

Crime rates per 1,000 people in Sefton
Overall Crime Rate84.2 per 1,000 people
Property Crime Rate23.3 per 1,000 people
UK Average Crime Rate93.4 per 1,000 people
UK Average Property Crime Rate33.2 per 1,000 people
Safety Score80 out of 100
Population286,281
Trendstable
Comparisonlower than UK average
Crime Breakdown by Type in Sefton
Crime TypeTotal CountPer 1,000 PeoplePercentage of Total
Violence and sexual offences10,0083542%
Public order2,5238.810%
Anti-social behaviour2,4138.410%
Criminal damage and arson1,8546.58%
Drugs1,7376.17%
Shoplifting1,7356.17%
Other theft1,1744.15%
Vehicle crime7622.73%
Burglary6912.43%
Other crime5381.92%
Possession of weapons2070.71%
Bicycle theft2040.71%
Robbery1970.71%
Theft from the person680.20%

Introduction to Crime in Sefton

Sefton experiences an overall crime rate of 84.2 per 1,000 residents annually, positioning it more favourably compared to the UK national average of 93.4 per 1,000. The area achieves a safety score of 80 out of 100, which is above the UK average of 78, indicating a relatively secure environment for its population of 286,281. Over the past year, crime trends in Sefton have remained stable, with a marginal decrease of 0.6%, suggesting consistent crime levels. This overview sets the stage for a more detailed examination of crime types, trends, and comparisons within the region.

Sefton Safety Score

80
Safe
Safety Score out of 100

Sefton has a relatively good safety score compared to the UK average (78).

0-20
20-40
40-60
60-80
80-100

Crime Rates Across Sefton

Bootle (Sefton)

130.6
per 1,000
Very High Risk

Kirkby

110.5
per 1,000
High Risk

Litherland

100.6
per 1,000
High Risk

Aintree

99.4
per 1,000
Moderate Risk

Southport

83.5
per 1,000
Moderate Risk

Crosby (Sefton)

72.7
per 1,000
Low Risk

Formby

51.5
per 1,000
Very Low Risk

Maghull

47.4
per 1,000
Very Low Risk

Hightown (Sefton)

35.4
per 1,000
Very Low Risk

Lydiate

35.2
per 1,000
Very Low Risk

Crime Rate Risk Levels

Very Low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High

About Sefton

Sefton, a diverse local authority district, encompasses a mix of urban, suburban, and coastal characteristics, contributing to its varied crime statistics. Major urban centres like Bootle and Southport, alongside quieter residential areas and popular tourist destinations, influence the types and frequency of reported incidents. The presence of commercial hubs, transport links, and a significant transient population in coastal towns can elevate certain crime categories such as theft and anti-social behaviour. Economic factors and population density within specific localities also play a role, creating a complex picture for understanding the area's overall crime rate and safety score.

Crime Types Breakdown

Violence and sexual offences
10,008 incidents (35 per 1,000)
Public order
2,523 incidents (8.8 per 1,000)
Anti-social behaviour
2,413 incidents (8.4 per 1,000)
Criminal damage and arson
1,854 incidents (6.5 per 1,000)
Drugs
1,737 incidents (6.1 per 1,000)
Shoplifting
1,735 incidents (6.1 per 1,000)
Other theft
1,174 incidents (4.1 per 1,000)
Vehicle crime
762 incidents (2.7 per 1,000)
Burglary
691 incidents (2.4 per 1,000)
Other crime
538 incidents (1.9 per 1,000)
Possession of weapons
207 incidents (0.7 per 1,000)
Bicycle theft
204 incidents (0.7 per 1,000)
Robbery
197 incidents (0.7 per 1,000)
Theft from the person
68 incidents (0.2 per 1,000)

Crime Rate Trend

↓ 2.7% change(over 12 months)
Sefton
UK Average

Compare Sefton with similar populations

Sefton has a 9.9% lower crime rate than the UK average.

Crime Type Analysis in Sefton

In Sefton, an analysis of crime types reveals that violence and sexual offences constitute the most significant category, accounting for 10,008 crimes, or 41.5% of the total, at a rate of 35.0 per 1,000 residents. Public order offences follow, with 2,523 incidents (10.5% of total), while anti-social behaviour ranks as the third most common, with 2,413 reports (10.0% of total). Overall property crime, which includes criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, burglary, other theft, robbery, theft from the person, and vehicle crime, stands at 23.3 per 1,000 people. This is considerably lower than the UK average property crime rate of 33.2 per 1,000. Specifically, burglary accounts for 691 crimes (2.4 per 1,000), vehicle crime for 762 crimes (2.7 per 1,000), and other theft for 1,174 crimes (4.1 per 1,000). For residents and homeowners, these figures suggest that while personal safety concerns around violence are notable, the risk of property-related offences is below the national average, offering a degree of reassurance regarding their homes and possessions.

Crime Trends in Sefton

Sefton has experienced a stable crime trend over the last year, with a slight decrease of 0.6% in overall crime. This indicates that the total number of reported incidents has remained largely consistent compared to the previous 12-month period. Looking at the monthly trend data, crime rates per 1,000 residents have shown some fluctuations. Rates were relatively high in October 2024 (7.5) and May 2025 (7.7), before seeing a dip in February 2025 (5.6) and December 2024/January 2025 (6.3 and 6.2 respectively). The latter part of the year, from July to September 2025, saw consistent rates ranging from 7.3 to 7.5 per 1,000. This stable trend suggests that residents can expect similar crime levels to persist, without significant year-on-year increases or decreases, though minor monthly variations are part of the normal pattern.

Crime in Nearby Areas

When considering Sefton's crime landscape, it is useful to compare it with neighbouring local authority districts. Sefton's overall crime rate of 84.2 per 1,000 is notably lower than Liverpool's (which typically has higher urban crime rates) and generally more favourable than areas like Knowsley and St. Helens, which often face greater crime challenges. Compared to Wirral and Halton, Sefton maintains a competitive safety profile. West Lancashire, often more rural in character, might present different crime patterns, but Sefton's larger population and mixed urban/coastal nature mean direct comparisons require nuance. Overall, Sefton stands as a relatively safer area within its regional context, offering a better safety score and lower overall crime rate than many of its immediate neighbours.

Protecting Your Home in Sefton

Given Sefton's property crime rate of 23.3 per 1,000 residents, which is below the national average, proactive home security remains a sensible consideration for homeowners. Many traditional security systems, such as Ring or Nest cameras, primarily record incidents after they have occurred, providing footage of a burglary rather than preventing it. If you are seeking to truly prevent crime at your property, consider a proactive approach. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, offers a different level of protection. Instead of merely recording, scOS detects threats at your property boundary before a break-in can even happen. Its multi-camera intelligence watches all cameras simultaneously, ensuring nothing is missed, and it can even catch fake vehicle plates instantly with DVLA verification. By learning your family's routines, scOS only alerts on genuine threats. When a real threat is detected, scOS can activate lights and engage speakers, destroying the element of surprise that burglars rely on. Most burglars decide whether to proceed within 60 seconds; visible, professional-grade deterrence like scOS can make them move on, offering a significant advantage over systems that simply notify you after the fact.

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About Our Crime Statistics

Official government data sources for Sefton

4,392+
UK Locations Monitored
19M+
Data Records
100%
Government Sources

Crime Rate Methodology

We determine crime rates by calculating recorded offences per 1,000 residents. This standardised metric enables meaningful comparisons between different-sized regions across the UK.

Information Sources

Official UK government databases provide all crime and demographic information, including Police.uk for offence records and ONS for population data. Statistics are compiled across town, district, and national boundaries.

Mathematical Formula

Rate per 1,000 = (Offences / Population) × 1,000

We exclusively use official UK government information sources:

  • Police.uk — Recorded crime data from England and Wales' 43 territorial police forces
  • Office for National Statistics — Demographic data and Crime Survey statistics
  • Home Office — National offence records and crime policy information
  • FOI Requests — Supplementary data from direct police force requests
We monitor crime data across 4,392+ locations throughout England and Wales, covering the majority of significant towns, cities, and county areas. Greater Manchester locations are presently excluded due to data access limitations. Updates occur promptly following new official data releases (approximately bimonthly), with historical records preserved for trend tracking.
Police.ukONSHome OfficeFOI

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Last updated: September 2025

New data is released by Police.uk approximately every two months

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