Crime in Birches Head & Northwood: statistics, rates and trends
1,787 crimes were recorded in Birches Head & Northwood in the 12 months to August 2026, 144.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Birches Head & Northwood
- Questions about crime in Birches Head & Northwood
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (601), anti-social behaviour (448) and public order (155) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 475th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Birches Head & Northwood | Stoke-on-Trent | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,787 | 37,774 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 144.8 | 139.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 12,340 | 270,425 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Birches Head & Northwood peaked in the year to August 2018 (2,082 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (1,479). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,787 | 144.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,737 | 140.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,727 | 140.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,615 | 130.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,603 | 129.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,479 | 119.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,514 | 122.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,819 | 147.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,082 | 168.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 144 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Birches Head & Northwood recorded notably more possession of weapons (3.1 times the national rate), anti-social behaviour (2.4 times the national rate) and public order (89% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (75% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 50 to 69 and possession of weapons rose from 27 to 37, while vehicle crime fell from 147 to 58 and shoplifting fell from 46 to 26.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 601 | 48.7 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 448 | 36.3 | 15.4 | +36% |
| Public order | 155 | 12.6 | 6.7 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 132 | 10.7 | 6.7 | -11% |
| Other theft | 116 | 9.4 | 6.4 | +32% |
| Drugs | 69 | 5.6 | 3.3 | +38% |
| Burglary | 67 | 5.4 | 3.6 | -19% |
| Vehicle crime | 58 | 4.7 | 5.0 | -61% |
| Possession of weapons | 37 | 3.0 | 1.0 | +37% |
| Robbery | 31 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0% |
| Other crime | 27 | 2.2 | 2.1 | +8% |
| Shoplifting | 26 | 2.1 | 8.5 | -43% |
| Bicycle theft | 14 | 1.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Birches Head & Northwood; the highest is Hanley Park, Joiner's Square & Shelton (297.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Bucknall & Eaton Park (100.7).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birches Head & Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moorcroft & Sneyd Green | 2,057 | 147.8 | +2% |
| Bucknall & Eaton Park | 554 | 100.7 | -30% |
| Etruria & Hanley | 1,682 | 246.3 | +70% |
| Hanley Park, Joiner's Square & Shelton | 4,890 | 297.2 | +105% |
| Abbey Hulton | 843 | 123.5 | -15% |
| Ford Green & Smallthorne | 828 | 146.7 | +1% |
| Burslem Park | 715 | 143.9 | -1% |
| Burslem | 818 | 184.4 | +27% |
The 10 locations below account for 31% of the crime recorded in Birches Head & Northwood over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hillcrest Street” (104).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hillcrest Street | 104 |
| On or near Prime Street | 60 |
| On or near Union Street | 56 |
| On or near Parking Area | 54 |
| On or near Rosevean Close | 52 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 52 |
| On or near Windmill Street | 50 |
| On or near Lindop Street | 48 |
| On or near Arbour Street | 39 |
| On or near Linfield Road | 37 |
Of the 1,339 crimes in Birches Head & Northwood with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 448 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 581 | 43.4% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 397 | 29.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 144 | 10.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 59 | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 52 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 47 | 3.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 36 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 19 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% | 0.6% |
Birches Head & Northwood has an estimated population of 12,340 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (26%, against 18%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (21%, against 34%) and more households without a car (31%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Birches Head & Northwood average decile 3.3 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Birches Head & Northwood | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 17.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 20.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 26.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 31.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 55.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 27.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.3 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 24.5% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Birches Head & Northwood a safe place to live?
Birches Head & Northwood recorded 144.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 475th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Birches Head & Northwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 601 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (448).
Is crime in Birches Head & Northwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birches Head & Northwood was up 3% on the year before: 1,787 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,737 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Birches Head & Northwood?
About 12,340 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 15% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Birches Head & Northwood?
Birches Head & Northwood is policed by Staffordshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.