Crime in Backbury: statistics, rates and trends
139 crimes were recorded in Backbury in the 12 months to August 2026, 39.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (69), criminal damage and arson (18) and burglary (11) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,475th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Backbury | Herefordshire, County of | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 139 | 11,739 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 39.3 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 3,535 | 191,047 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Backbury peaked in the year to August 2021 (155 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (109). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 10%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 139 | 39.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 131 | 37.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 128 | 36.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 143 | 40.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 116 | 32.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 155 | 43.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 136 | 38.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 109 | 30.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 126 | 35.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 14 |
| July 2026 | 9 |
| June 2026 | 13 |
| May 2026 | 14 |
| April 2026 | 6 |
| March 2026 | 13 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| January 2026 | 8 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 12 |
| September 2025 | 9 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (43% below) was well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 53 to 69.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 69 | 19.5 | 34.2 | +30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 18 | 5.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 3.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 9 | 2.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Anti-social behaviour | 8 | 2.3 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Other theft | 8 | 2.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Backbury; the highest is Central, Herefordshire, County of (541.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Hagley, Herefordshire, County of (27.6).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Backbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagley | 121 | 27.6 | -30% |
| Dinedor Hill | 198 | 49.7 | +27% |
| Aylestone Hill | 161 | 34.3 | -13% |
| Eign Hill | 160 | 46.7 | +19% |
| Saxon Gate | 167 | 48.8 | +24% |
| Central | 1,972 | 541.5 | +1277% |
| College | 230 | 74.1 | +88% |
| Red Hill | 551 | 97.6 | +148% |
The 10 locations below account for 63% of the crime recorded in Backbury over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Park/Open Space” (16).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Park/Open Space | 16 |
| On or near Holywell Gutter Lane | 14 |
| On or near Pound Close | 12 |
| On or near Netherwood Close | 10 |
| On or near New Inn Close | 8 |
| On or near Clay Hill Pit | 6 |
| On or near Pentaloe Close | 6 |
| On or near Sufton Lane | 6 |
| On or near Barrs Orchard | 5 |
| On or near Court Orchard | 5 |
Of the 131 crimes in Backbury with a recorded outcome, 18% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 8 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 55 | 42.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 26 | 19.8% | 11.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 23 | 17.6% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 10.7% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9 | 6.9% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
Backbury has an estimated population of 3,535 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (7.8%, against 23.3%), an older population (29%, against 19%) and more retired residents (32%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Backbury average decile 6.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Backbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 31.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 38.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 7.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Backbury a safe place to live?
Backbury recorded 39.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,475th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Backbury?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 69 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (18).
Is crime in Backbury going up or down?
Recorded crime in Backbury was up 6% on the year before: 139 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 131 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Backbury?
About 3,535 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Backbury?
Backbury is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.