Crime in Balsall Heath West: statistics, rates and trends
1,316 crimes were recorded in Balsall Heath West in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Balsall Heath West at a glance
- Crime trends in Balsall Heath West
- Types of crime in Balsall Heath West
- Balsall Heath West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Balsall Heath West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Balsall Heath West
- Population and deprivation in Balsall Heath West
- Questions about crime in Balsall Heath West
- About this data
1,316 crimes were recorded in Balsall Heath West in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 608 reports (46% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Balsall Heath West has the 1,188th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Balsall Heath West | Birmingham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,316 | 146,625 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 102.2 | 123.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 12,874 | 1,183,618 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Balsall Heath West was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,689 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (1,214). Over the whole period it rose 7%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 1,316 | 102.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,432 | 111.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,430 | 111.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,466 | 113.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,572 | 122.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,689 | 131.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,386 | 107.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,214 | 94.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,230 | 95.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 119 |
| June 2026 | 107 |
| May 2026 | 96 |
| April 2026 | 103 |
| March 2026 | 115 |
| February 2026 | 99 |
| January 2026 | 99 |
| December 2025 | 133 |
| November 2025 | 108 |
| October 2025 | 107 |
| September 2025 | 111 |
| August 2025 | 119 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Balsall Heath West 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 violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in public order (+32%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-50%) and robbery (-38%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 608 | 47.2 | 1.38 | -3% |
| Vehicle crime | 133 | 10.3 | 2.10 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 112 | 8.7 | 1.28 | -16% |
| Public order | 87 | 6.8 | 1.02 | +32% |
| Other theft | 71 | 5.5 | 0.86 | +4% |
| Burglary | 60 | 4.7 | 1.32 | -29% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 55 | 4.3 | 0.28 | -50% |
| Drugs | 45 | 3.5 | 1.07 | -8% |
| Possession of weapons | 37 | 2.9 | 2.96 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 33 | 2.6 | 0.31 | -30% |
| Robbery | 29 | 2.3 | 1.67 | -38% |
| Other crime | 20 | 1.6 | 0.74 | -26% |
| Bicycle theft | 14 | 1.1 | 1.32 | +17% |
| Theft from the person | 12 | 0.9 | 0.55 | +50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Balsall Heath West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Balsall Heath West recorded 608 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (47.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 46.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Balsall Heath West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Balsall Heath West recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 10.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Balsall Heath West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Balsall Heath West recorded 112 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Balsall Heath West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Balsall Heath West recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Balsall Heath West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Balsall Heath West recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Balsall Heath West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Balsall Heath West recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Balsall Heath West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Balsall Heath West recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Balsall Heath West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Balsall Heath West recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Balsall Heath West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Balsall Heath West recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Balsall Heath West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Balsall Heath West recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Balsall Heath West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Balsall Heath West recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Balsall Heath West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Balsall Heath West recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Balsall Heath West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Balsall Heath West recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Balsall Heath West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Balsall Heath West recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Balsall Heath West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Balsall Heath West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Balsall Heath West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bordesley & Highgate | 6,147 | 313.8 | +207% |
| Edgbaston | 1,568 | 94.8 | -7% |
| Moseley | 2,620 | 113.1 | +11% |
| Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East | 3,509 | 126.7 | +24% |
| Ladywood | 10,993 | 411.7 | +303% |
| Sparkhill | 1,989 | 97.7 | -4% |
| Bournbrook & Selly Park | 2,187 | 110.8 | +8% |
| Bordesley Green | 2,025 | 146.4 | +43% |
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 Balsall Heath West over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 123 |
| On or near Royston Croft | 66 |
| On or near Stone Road | 55 |
| On or near Alpha Close | 50 |
| On or near Mary Street | 45 |
| On or near Vincent Close | 44 |
| On or near Police Station | 38 |
| On or near Beech Avenue | 35 |
| On or near Rathbone Close | 32 |
| On or near George Street | 30 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Balsall Heath West 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 511 | 38.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 461 | 35.0% |
| Under investigation | 92 | 7.0% |
| Local resolution | 59 | 4.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 56 | 4.3% |
| Not recorded | 55 | 4.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 30 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 29 | 2.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 17 | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Balsall Heath West has an estimated population of 12,874. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Balsall Heath West sits in decile 1.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Balsall Heath West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 68.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 34.5% |
| Social rented homes | 43.0% |
| Private rented homes | 21.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 70.4% |
Is Balsall Heath West a safe place to live?
Balsall Heath West recorded 102.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Balsall Heath West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 608 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by vehicle crime (133).
Is crime in Balsall Heath West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Balsall Heath West was down 8% on the year before: 1,316 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,432 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Balsall Heath West?
Balsall Heath West is policed by West Midlands. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Balsall Heath West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.