New data released by Cheshire Constabulary show that reported violent crime and shoplifting increased in Macclesfield, Cheshire, during December 2025. Cheshire Constabulary data for the Macclesfield Central ward indicate reports of ‘violence and sexual offences’ rose from 47 in November 2025 to 54 in December 2025.
Shoplifting reports in the same ward rose from 17 to 22 over the same period. Police and local stakeholders say the timing coincided with the busy holiday shopping season and may be linked to higher footfall, though this is a potential factor rather than a proven cause.
Cheshire Constabulary’s Macclesfield Central Safer Neighbourhood Team has said it increased patrols in the town centre and is working closely with retailers; officers have encouraged residents and visitors to report incidents. The Office for National Statistics’ data show shoplifting rose nationally in 2025, a broader trend that local analysts say is reflected in town-centre figures.
Local reporting in the Macclesfield section of Cheshire Live and in the Macclesfield Express has noted that while the town remains largely safe overall, some business owners and residents have called for more visible policing following the December spike. The figures were processed and released in early February 2026 (briefing dated 3 February 2026).
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