Crime in Birches Head & Northwood: statistics, rates and trends
1,802 crimes were recorded in Birches Head & Northwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 146.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Birches Head & Northwood at a glance
- Crime trends in Birches Head & Northwood
- Types of crime in Birches Head & Northwood
- Birches Head & Northwood compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Birches Head & Northwood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Birches Head & Northwood
- Population and deprivation in Birches Head & Northwood
- Questions about crime in Birches Head & Northwood
- About this data
1,802 crimes were recorded in Birches Head & Northwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 146.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 591 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Birches Head & Northwood has the 471st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Birches Head & Northwood | Stoke-on-Trent | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,802 | 37,571 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 146.0 | 138.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 12,340 | 270,425 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Birches Head & Northwood was highest in the year to July 2018 (2,122 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (1,482). Over the whole period it fell 15%, 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 | 1,802 | 146.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,734 | 140.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,732 | 140.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,625 | 131.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,550 | 125.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,482 | 120.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,534 | 124.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,865 | 151.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,122 | 172.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 194 |
| June 2026 | 171 |
| May 2026 | 128 |
| April 2026 | 123 |
| March 2026 | 133 |
| February 2026 | 156 |
| January 2026 | 127 |
| December 2025 | 162 |
| November 2025 | 138 |
| October 2025 | 143 |
| September 2025 | 168 |
| August 2025 | 159 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Birches Head & Northwood 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, anti-social behaviour, public order.
The largest increases were in drugs (+56%) and possession of weapons (+42%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-49%) and shoplifting (-43%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 591 | 47.9 | 1.40 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 430 | 34.8 | 2.27 | +34% |
| Public order | 159 | 12.9 | 1.94 | +22% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 138 | 11.2 | 1.65 | -15% |
| Other theft | 119 | 9.6 | 1.51 | +34% |
| Burglary | 73 | 5.9 | 1.67 | -10% |
| Vehicle crime | 72 | 5.8 | 1.18 | -49% |
| Drugs | 70 | 5.7 | 1.74 | +56% |
| Possession of weapons | 37 | 3.0 | 3.09 | +42% |
| Robbery | 35 | 2.8 | 2.10 | +30% |
| Other crime | 28 | 2.3 | 1.07 | +33% |
| Shoplifting | 27 | 2.2 | 0.26 | -43% |
| Bicycle theft | 17 | 1.4 | 1.67 | +55% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.5 | 0.29 | -25% |
Violence and sexual offences in Birches Head & Northwood
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 591 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (47.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 32.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Birches Head & Northwood
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 430 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 23.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Birches Head & Northwood
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Birches Head & Northwood
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Birches Head & Northwood
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 119 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Birches Head & Northwood
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Birches Head & Northwood
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 49% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Birches Head & Northwood
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Birches Head & Northwood
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Birches Head & Northwood
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Birches Head & Northwood
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Birches Head & Northwood
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Birches Head & Northwood
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 55% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Birches Head & Northwood
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Birches Head & Northwood recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Birches Head & Northwood, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Birches Head & Northwood.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birches Head & Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moorcroft & Sneyd Green | 2,059 | 147.9 | +1% |
| Bucknall & Eaton Park | 563 | 102.3 | -30% |
| Etruria & Hanley | 1,689 | 247.3 | +69% |
| Hanley Park, Joiner's Square & Shelton | 4,861 | 295.5 | +102% |
| Abbey Hulton | 829 | 121.4 | -17% |
| Ford Green & Smallthorne | 834 | 147.7 | +1% |
| Burslem Park | 688 | 138.4 | -5% |
| Burslem | 794 | 179.0 | +23% |
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 Birches Head & Northwood over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hillcrest Street | 104 |
| On or near Union Street | 62 |
| On or near Parking Area | 59 |
| On or near Rosevean Close | 56 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 52 |
| On or near Prime Street | 51 |
| On or near Lindop Street | 51 |
| On or near Windmill Street | 49 |
| On or near Linfield Road | 44 |
| On or near Arbour Street | 37 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Birches Head & Northwood 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 | 596 | 33.1% |
| Not recorded | 430 | 23.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 412 | 22.9% |
| Under investigation | 148 | 8.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 59 | 3.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 55 | 3.1% |
| Local resolution | 48 | 2.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 32 | 1.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 1.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% |
Birches Head & Northwood has an estimated population of 12,340. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Birches Head & Northwood sits in decile 3.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Birches Head & Northwood |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 55.4% |
| Social rented homes | 17.3% |
| Private rented homes | 27.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 24.5% |
Is Birches Head & Northwood a safe place to live?
Birches Head & Northwood recorded 146.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than 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 Birches Head & Northwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 591 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (430).
Is crime in Birches Head & Northwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birches Head & Northwood was up 4% on the year before: 1,802 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,734 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Birches Head & Northwood?
Birches Head & Northwood is policed by Staffordshire. 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 Birches Head & Northwood. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.