Sefton Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 286,281 residents, 1,801 crimes were recorded in Sefton during December 2024, equating to a crime rate of 6.3 per 1,000 people — 11.3% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This places Sefton among the safer local authority districts in England and Wales, though the crime profile reflects a mix of patterns consistent with a coastal and urban area. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 43.8% of all crimes, followed by public order offences (9.4%) and anti-social behaviour (8.6%). The seasonal context of December — marked by Christmas shopping, dark evenings, and holiday-related absences — may partly explain fluctuations in crime types. For instance, the relatively low rate of burglary (3.3 per 1,000) could be linked to fewer homes being unoccupied during the festive period, while the higher proportion of violence and public order offences may reflect increased social activity in town centres. Sefton’s rate of anti-social behaviour is 47% below the UK average, which could indicate stronger community engagement or effective local policing strategies in areas prone to such incidents. However, the rate of violence and sexual offences is 9% above the UK average, suggesting that targeted interventions may be needed in specific neighbourhoods or during peak times such as late evenings. The data also highlights a significant disparity in crime categories: while shoplifting and vehicle crime are both below the UK average by 30% and 50% respectively, public order offences are 33% higher than the national figure, reflecting the impact of seasonal events or increased alcohol consumption in public spaces.

December 2024 saw notable shifts in Sefton’s crime mix compared to the previous month. Theft from the person rose sharply by 66.7% (3 to 5 incidents), while robbery increased by 62.5% (8 to 13). These spikes may be linked to the Christmas shopping season, where crowded retail areas could create opportunities for opportunistic theft. Conversely, drug-related offences fell by 47.7% (172 to 90), a decline that could reflect reduced nightlife activity or successful enforcement actions during the festive period. Anti-social behaviour also dropped by 24.9% (205 to 154), due to seasonal changes in community dynamics or increased compliance with curfews. On a broader scale, Sefton’s rate of violence and sexual offences (2.8 per 1,000) is 9% above the UK average, while its rate of public order offences (0.6 per 1,000) is 33% higher. This contrast with categories such as anti-social behaviour, which is 47% below the UK average, and shoplifting, which is 30% below. For residents, the most immediate concern may be the rise in theft from the person — a 66.7% increase that underscores the need for heightened vigilance in public spaces during the holiday season. The data also shows that Sefton’s rate of burglary (0.2 per 1,000) is 35% below the UK average, suggesting that property crime may be less prevalent in this area compared to other parts of the country.

Sefton’s crime rate in December 2024 was 6.3 per 1,000 residents, a 10.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 7.0 per 1,000. This decline aligns with broader seasonal patterns, where reduced outdoor activity and holiday-related absences may contribute to lower crime rates in certain categories. On a daily basis, Sefton recorded an average of 58 crimes per day in December — a figure that, while seemingly high, must be contextualised within the local population. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 159 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average when considering Sefton’s overall rate. This statistic highlights the importance of population size in interpreting crime data: even with 1,801 crimes recorded, the rate per 1,000 residents remains below the national benchmark. The comparison to the UK average is particularly instructive for residents: while Sefton’s anti-social behaviour rate is 47% below the UK figure, its public order offences are 33% higher, illustrating the combination of local conditions and national trends. For someone living in Sefton, the daily crime count may be a more tangible measure — 58 crimes per day in a district with 286,281 residents — but this figure is spread across a wide geographic area and a diverse range of communities. The month-on-month decline also suggests that local initiatives or policing efforts may have had a measurable impact, though further analysis would be needed to confirm the exact drivers of this change.