WE are lucky that mid Cheshire is such a beautiful and peaceful place to live.

But criminal activity still takes place in Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich, with some crimes more common than others.

The latest figures on the police.uk website show the most common types of crime across the area from May 2019 to April 2020.

The data is broken down into geographical areas which mirror the council wards that were used until the May 2019 elections.

It shows that violent and sexual offences were the most common types of crime across Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich.

However, the three towns saw a spike in anti-social behaviour in April 2020, which was the most common type of crime in the first full month of lockdown.

And some crimes are more prevalent in some areas than others, such as shoplifting in Winnington and Castle, which includes Northwich town centre.

Here are the top five types of crime in each area of Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich from May 2019 to April 2020.

The most common type of crime in April 2020 is listed in bold.

NORTHWICH

Marbury:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 245 (37.5 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 126 (19.3 per cent)
  3. Criminal damage and arson – 69 (10.6 per cent)
  4. Public order – 66 (10.1 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 50 (7.7 per cent)

Winnington and Castle:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 560 (28.5 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 386 (19.7 per cent)
  3. Shoplifting – 277 (14.1 per cent)
  4. Public order – 206 (10.5 per cent)
  5. Criminal damage and arson – 147 (7.5 per cent)

Witton and Rudheath:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 267 (39.4 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 126 (18.6 per cent)
  3. Public order – 67 (9.9 per cent)
  4. Criminal damage and arson – 62 (9.1 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 49 (7.2 per cent)

Shakerley:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 85 (31.4 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 45 (16.6 per cent)
  3. Shoplifting – 33 (12.2 per cent)
  4. Public order – 27 (10 per cent)
  5. Criminal damage and arson – 22 (8.1 per cent)

Davenham and Moulton:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 250 (37.8 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 146 (22.1 per cent)
  3. Public order – 70 (10.6 per cent)
  4. Criminal damage and arson – 54 (8.2 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 43 (6.5 per cent)

Hartford and Greenbank:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 166 (35.3 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 110 (23.4 per cent)
  3. Public order – 53 (11.3 per cent)
  4. Criminal damage and arson – 45 (9.6 per cent)
  5. Burglary – 24 (5.1 per cent)

Weaver and Cuddington:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 257 (33.8 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 181 (23.8 per cent)
  3. Criminal damage and arson – 78 (10.3 per cent)
  4. Public order – 75 (9.9 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 60 (7.9 per cent)

WINSFORD AND MIDDLEWICH

Over and Verdin:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 644 (39.8 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 391 (24.2 per cent)
  3. Public order – 191 (11.8 per cent)
  4. Criminal damage and arson – 146 (9 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 63 (3.9 per cent)

Swanlow and Dene:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 390 (29.4 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 329 (24.8 per cent)
  3. Public order – 182 (13.7 per cent)
  4. Shoplifting – 141 (10.6 per cent)
  5. Criminal damage and arson – 140 (10.6 per cent)

Wharton:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 353 (32.8 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 293 (27.2 per cent)
  3. Public order – 134 (12.5 per cent)
  4. Criminal damage and arson – 96 (8.9 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 70 (6.5 per cent)

Middlewich:

  1. Violent and sexual offences – 479 (36.1 per cent)
  2. Anti-social behaviour – 311 (23.4 per cent)
  3. Public order – 173 (13 per cent)
  4. Criminal damage and arson – 105 (7.9 per cent)
  5. Other theft – 62 (4.7 per cent)