Birkenhead Crime Rate

Birkenhead Crime Overview

Birkenhead, the largest urban settlement in Wirral, has an overall crime rate of 119.0 per 1,000 people for the 2025 calendar year. This figure is higher than the UK average of 91.6, reflecting the area's role as a major commercial and transport hub. Despite the higher volume of incidents, Birkenhead maintains a safety score of 72/100, which is respectable for a densely populated urban area, though lower than the UK average of 79. The crime trend is currently stable, with a 4.1% year-over-year change. Property crime in the area is recorded at 32.0 per 1,000 residents, aligning closely with the national average. This data indicates that while Birkenhead faces urban-specific safety challenges, it remains a stable environment where informed residents can take effective steps to mitigate risk.

Crime Breakdown in Birkenhead

In Birkenhead, violence and sexual offences constitute the most frequent crime type, accounting for 5,319 incidents or 39.7% of all recorded crime. This is followed by public order offences (11.2%) and anti-social behaviour (11.2%). These figures reflect the challenges often faced by larger urban centres with significant commercial and transport infrastructure.

Property crime in Birkenhead occurs at a rate of 32.0 per 1,000 people, which is almost exactly in line with the UK average of 32.2. This category includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft. Specifically, burglary accounts for 2.6% of total crime, while vehicle crime makes up 2.7%. For residents, this means that while the overall crime rate is higher than the regional average, property-related risks are typical for an urban settlement of this size. Criminal damage and arson also represent a notable 9.3% of local offences, suggesting that visible security measures are important for protecting physical assets and maintaining a sense of community safety.

Crime Trends in Birkenhead

The crime trend in Birkenhead is currently stable, with a 4.1% year-over-year change. This indicates that while the area has a higher crime rate than the national average, the situation is not rapidly deteriorating. A review of the monthly data for 2025 shows that the crime rate per 1,000 started at 8.2 in January and rose steadily through the spring, reaching 10.4 in April.

The summer months saw the highest intensity, peaking at 11.1 per 1,000 in July. This seasonal increase is typical for urban areas as footfall and outdoor activity rise. Towards the end of the year, the rate remained relatively high, fluctuating between 9.6 and 10.6. For residents, this suggests that while crime is a year-round consideration, extra vigilance is required during the summer and early autumn when incident rates are at their highest.

How To Keep Safe in Birkenhead

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes in Birkenhead. Given the area's urban nature and busy town centre, personal safety and awareness are paramount. To stay safe in Birkenhead, follow these localized suggestions:

1. Be Vigilant in the Town Centre: When visiting commercial areas or transport interchanges like Birkenhead Hamilton Square, stay alert to your surroundings, especially during busy afternoon and evening periods.
2. Secure Your Vehicle at Night: With vehicle crime making up 28% of night-time offences, always park in well-lit areas or secure garages. Use visible steering locks as an added deterrent.
3. Plan Your Evening Travel: If you are out during the evening (6pm-12am) when anti-social behaviour peaks, plan your route in advance and stick to main roads with high footfall and good lighting.
4. Protect Your Property Boundary: Burglaries are most common at night (17%). Installing motion-activated lighting and proactive AI security can stop intruders before they attempt to enter your home.
5. Report Suspicious Activity: Engaging with local police through non-emergency channels to report anti-social behaviour helps authorities manage the urban environment more effectively.

Crime Patterns in Birkenhead

Crime in Birkenhead follows distinct temporal patterns throughout the day. The afternoon period (12pm-6pm) is the most active for theft-related offences, which account for 39% of crimes during these hours, largely driven by the area's retail activity. As the day transitions into the evening (6pm-12am), the nature of crime shifts, with "other" categories including public order and anti-social behaviour making up 63% of reports, coinciding with the evening economy and nightlife.

The night-time hours (12am-6am) present a specific risk for vehicle owners, as vehicle crime jumps to 28% of all incidents during this period. Burglary also remains a steady threat throughout the day but peaks slightly at night (17%) and in the afternoon (16%). Understanding these cycles allows residents to be more targeted in their safety measures, such as ensuring vehicles are extra secure overnight and remaining vigilant in commercial zones during peak shopping hours.

Regional Comparison

Birkenhead serves as the primary urban core for the Wirral peninsula, and its crime statistics reflect this status. When compared to nearby Wallasey, which has a crime rate of 81.7, Birkenhead shows a higher level of activity. The contrast is even more pronounced when compared to the highly residential and affluent areas of Heswall (33.2) and Greasby (25.7), which benefit from much lower crime rates. Barnston, a nearby rural area, reports virtually no crime. This comparison highlights Birkenhead's position as a busy metropolitan centre where crime is naturally more concentrated than in the surrounding suburban and rural settlements.

Proactive Security in Birkenhead

Birkenhead’s property crime rate of 32.0 per 1,000 people highlights the need for robust residential security. In an urban environment where burglary and vehicle crime are persistent risks, traditional reactive security—like standard CCTV that simply records footage—is often insufficient. By the time you receive a notification from a DIY camera, an intruder may already be inside your home or have damaged your vehicle.

The scOS AI-powered home security system offers a proactive alternative. By using multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundaries, scOS can detect a threat before a break-in occurs. In Birkenhead, where 28% of night-time crime is vehicle-related, scOS’s ability to verify vehicle plates and detect loitering around driveways is invaluable. The system doesn't just watch; it acts by activating lights or speakers to deter criminals instantly. For Birkenhead residents, this shift from recording crime to preventing it provides the highest level of protection available, ensuring that your home and vehicles are defended by professional-grade AI technology.