West Kirby Crime Overview

West Kirby is among the top 10 safest small towns in Merseyside, and is among the top 20 safest overall out of Merseyside's 39 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in West Kirby in 2020 was 39 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Merseyside's overall crime rate, coming in 126% lower than the Merseyside rate of 89 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, West Kirby is the 238th safest small town, and the 4,538th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In March 2020, West Kirby was the worst small town in Merseyside for bicycle theft, with 3 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.20 per 1,000 inhabitants. June 2020 was also a bad month for West Kirby residents, when it was Merseyside's most dangerous small town for theft from the person, recording 1 crime at a rate of 0.07 per 1,000 residents. West Kirby recorded 27 reports of criminal damage and arson during October 2018, making its crime rate of 1.8 the worst small town for criminal damage and arson in Merseyside that month.

The most common crimes in West Kirby are violence and sexual offences, with 247 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 17. This is 7% higher than 2019's figure of 230 offences and a difference of 1.15 from 2019's crime rate of 15. West Kirby's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 2 offences recorded in 2020, the same as 2019's figure of 2 crimes.

Compare West Kirby to other towns and cities

See how West Kirby shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how West Kirby and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.

West Kirby Crime Map

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Crime in West Kirby Compared To Merseyside

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Summary of Crimes in West Kirby This Year

 West KirbyMerseyside 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour41627.9740,66028.451.7% safer
Bicycle Theft130.871,5121.0622% safer
Burglary352.357,2855.10117% safer
Criminal Damage and Arson714.7713,6509.55100% safer
Drugs382.5512,2518.57236% safer
Other Crime130.872,8461.99129% safer
Other Theft372.496,9194.8494% safer
Possession of Weapons20.131,3200.92608% safer
Public Order614.1014,0409.82140% safer
Robbery20.131,0670.75477% safer
Shoplifting291.955,6903.98104% safer
Theft From the Person30.201,2650.89345% safer
Vehicle Crime332.226,5194.56105% safer
Violence and Sexual Offences24716.6152,19836.52120% safer

West Kirby Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Eccleston23723.1570% safer
Rainford24932.2522% safer
Halewood68533.6617% safer
Formby81536.757% safer
Hoylake41439.260% safer
West Kirby58439.26-
Maghull78839.600.86% more dangerous
Knowsley50543.4610% more dangerous
Rainhill51747.1417% more dangerous
Haydock1,03764.4539% more dangerous
Whiston1,00376.9949% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in West Kirby

View crime percentage over time for

Recent Crimes in West Kirby

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near South ParadeUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Shrewsbury RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021DrugsOn or near Bramerton CourtLocal resolution
August 2021Other theftOn or near Nettle HillInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Other theftOn or near Nettle HillInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Other theftOn or near Nettle HillInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Other theftOn or near Nettle HillInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near KingswalkUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Lingdale RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Marine ParkUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Bicycle theftOn or near Elder GroveInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021BurglaryOn or near ThorswayInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Bicycle theftOn or near Murray GroveInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Darmond'S GreenInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Shalford GroveUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Public orderOn or near Banks RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Ashton DriveUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Bicycle theftOn or near Parking AreaInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Burlingham AvenueInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Burlingham AvenueInvestigation complete; no suspect identified

West Kirby Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour20201228Getting worse
Bicycle Theft0.871.41.10.87Safer
Burglary4.553.82.4Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson10754.8Safer
Drugs1.31.61.12.6Getting worse
Other Crime0.540.610.540.87Getting worse
Other Theft2.94.14.42.5Safer
Possession of Weapons0.130.200.130.13Safer
Public Order2.653.84.1Getting worse
Robbery (inc. mugging)0.200.400.270.13Safer
Shoplifting563.62.0Safer
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)0.200.270.540.20Safer
Vehicle Crime563.02.2Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences9141517Getting worse

Changes In West Kirby's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing West Kirby to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
West Kirby39.26-
Barnet67.7142% more dangerous
Coventry77.4149% more dangerous
Croydon83.2253% more dangerous
Sheffield85.8154% more dangerous
Bristol86.2154% more dangerous
Leicester97.4460% more dangerous
Birmingham102.8762% more dangerous
Liverpool107.2863% more dangerous
Bradford133.0270% more dangerous
Leeds137.1071% more dangerous

Crime in West Kirby's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
West Kirby38049First

Crime in West Kirby During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in West Kirby change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in June, when West Kirby saw a 700% increase in drugs. West Kirby saw a large fall in bicycle theft during July, when it fell by 89% compared to July in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour+50%+267%+190%+311%+83%+63%+130%+309%+200%+400%
Bicycle Theft---+200%-89%-----
Burglary-+100%-40%-67%-80%+50%+100%+100%-20%+20%
Criminal Damage and Arson-56%-88%-71%+14%+150%+100%+60%+450%+33%-43%
Drugs---+700%+50%+100%----
Other Crime----------
Other Theft-25%-60%-25%-56%+50%-33%-17%--57%-50%
Public Order-43%-50%+200%-30%+80%+57%+50%-+67%+67%
Shoplifting-14%--89%-89%--67%-50%-+100%-67%
Theft From the Person----------
Vehicle Crime--67%-60%--50%-+125%-17%-80%-
Violence and Sexual Offences+16%+4%-15%-9%-19%+154%+47%-50%--4%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in West Kirby

What police force serves West Kirby?
West Kirby's local territorial police force is the Merseyside Police.
How dangerous is West Kirby?
West Kirby is among the top 10 safest small towns in Merseyside.
What is West Kirby's most common crime?
The most common crimes in West Kirby are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in West Kirby?
West Kirby's least common crimes are possession of weapons.

Last updated: 05 Oct 2021