Crime in Dudley: statistics, rates and trends

26,511 crimes were recorded in Dudley in the 12 months to July 2026, 79.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 11,403 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Dudley has the 179th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Dudley was highest in the year to July 2022 (34,186 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (26,511). Over the whole period it fell 1%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Dudley over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for vehicle crime, possession of weapons.

The largest increases were in drugs (+21%) and possession of weapons (+11%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-55%) and bicycle theft (-31%).

Violence and sexual offences in Dudley

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Dudley recorded 11,403 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 43.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Dudley

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Dudley recorded 2,999 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Dudley

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Dudley recorded 2,191 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Dudley

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Dudley recorded 2,175 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Dudley

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Dudley recorded 1,575 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Dudley

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Dudley recorded 1,486 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Dudley

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Dudley recorded 1,376 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Dudley

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Dudley recorded 1,014 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Dudley

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Dudley recorded 636 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Dudley

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Dudley recorded 565 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Dudley

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Dudley recorded 541 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Dudley

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Dudley recorded 351 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Dudley

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Dudley recorded 142 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Dudley

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Dudley recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Dudley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Dudley.

31 areas within Dudley, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Brierley Hill & Wordsley South had the highest rate (157.9 per 1,000) and Norton the lowest (38.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Dudley over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Dudley over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Dudley has an estimated population of 331,930. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Dudley sits in decile 5.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Dudley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.