Sefton Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Sefton's crime profile in May 2024 showed a combination of trends, with the overall rate of 7.8 per 1,000 residents placing it 7.1% below the UK average. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 41.3% of all reported incidents, followed by public order (11.8%) and anti-social behaviour (11.3%). This pattern aligns with Sefton's character as a coastal district with a mix of urban centres and suburban areas, where public spaces and social interactions may contribute to higher rates of disorder-related offences. Seasonal factors in May—longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—likely influenced the rise in public order and anti-social behaviour incidents. While violent crime remains a concern, categories like burglary (2.5% of total crimes) and shoplifting (5.7%) were below UK averages, suggesting effective local policing in property-related areas. The UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.8 per 1,000) was exceeded by Sefton's 3.2 per 1,000, a difference that may reflect specific local challenges in managing high-risk environments such as town centres or transport hubs.

The most dramatic month-on-month change in May 2024 was the 142.9% increase in possession of weapons, rising from 7 to 17 incidents. This surge, while statistically significant, remains a relatively small portion of total crimes (0.8% of all reported incidents). Concurrently, anti-social behaviour rose by 29.2% (195 to 252 cases), a shift that may reflect increased socialising during May's extended evenings. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category (41.3% of all crimes), were 13% above the UK average (3.2 vs 2.8 per 1,000). This contrast with categories like burglary (35% below UK average) and shoplifting (38% below) highlights a distinct local profile. Residents may find the 173% increase in drug-related crimes (159 cases, 0.6 per 1,000) particularly noteworthy, as this category far exceeds the UK average by 173%.

Sefton's crime rate in May 2024 rose to 7.8 per 1,000 residents, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous month's 7.4 per 1,000. This shift, though modest, reflects a growing trend in certain categories. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 72 crimes per day, a figure that underscores the persistent nature of local crime patterns. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 128 residents, a monthly aggregate that contextualises the scale of incidents within the population. While the overall rate remains 7.1% below the UK average, the month-on-month rise suggests a need for ongoing monitoring of emerging trends. This increase, coupled with the daily crime count, provides a tangible sense of how frequently residents may encounter crime in their daily lives, particularly in areas with higher concentrations of social activity or nightlife.