Crime in Blackheath, Sandwell: statistics, rates and trends
1,419 crimes were recorded in Blackheath, Sandwell in the 12 months to July 2026, 118.1 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 Blackheath, Sandwell at a glance
- Crime trends in Blackheath, Sandwell
- Types of crime in Blackheath, Sandwell
- Blackheath, Sandwell compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Blackheath, Sandwell
- What happened after crimes were reported in Blackheath, Sandwell
- Population and deprivation in Blackheath, Sandwell
- Questions about crime in Blackheath, Sandwell
- About this data
1,419 crimes were recorded in Blackheath, Sandwell in the 12 months to July 2026, 118.1 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 550 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Blackheath, Sandwell has the 850th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Blackheath, Sandwell | Sandwell | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,419 | 36,124 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 118.1 | 102.1 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 12,018 | 353,860 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Blackheath, Sandwell was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,458 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (973). Over the whole period it rose 46%, 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 | 1,419 | 118.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,363 | 113.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,269 | 105.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,454 | 121.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,458 | 121.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,437 | 119.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,084 | 90.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,100 | 91.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 973 | 81.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 155 |
| June 2026 | 137 |
| May 2026 | 137 |
| April 2026 | 104 |
| March 2026 | 124 |
| February 2026 | 86 |
| January 2026 | 104 |
| December 2025 | 146 |
| November 2025 | 87 |
| October 2025 | 119 |
| September 2025 | 124 |
| August 2025 | 96 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Blackheath, Sandwell 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, shoplifting, robbery.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+77%) and other theft (+18%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-73%) and vehicle crime (-29%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 550 | 45.8 | 1.34 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 388 | 32.3 | 3.90 | +77% |
| Public order | 81 | 6.7 | 1.01 | +0% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 76 | 6.3 | 0.93 | -8% |
| Other theft | 73 | 6.1 | 0.95 | +18% |
| Vehicle crime | 63 | 5.2 | 1.06 | -29% |
| Burglary | 44 | 3.7 | 1.04 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 35 | 2.9 | 0.19 | -73% |
| Other crime | 30 | 2.5 | 1.18 | +11% |
| Robbery | 27 | 2.2 | 1.66 | -23% |
| Drugs | 23 | 1.9 | 0.59 | +44% |
| Possession of weapons | 22 | 1.8 | 1.89 | +16% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.40 | +300% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 0.15 | -70% |
Violence and sexual offences in Blackheath, Sandwell
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 550 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (45.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 38.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Blackheath, Sandwell
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 388 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 77% on the year before. It made up 27.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Blackheath, Sandwell
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Blackheath, Sandwell
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Blackheath, Sandwell
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Blackheath, Sandwell
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Blackheath, Sandwell
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Blackheath, Sandwell
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 73% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Blackheath, Sandwell
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Blackheath, Sandwell
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Blackheath, Sandwell
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 23 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 44% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Blackheath, Sandwell
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Blackheath, Sandwell
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Blackheath, Sandwell
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 70% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Blackheath, Sandwell, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Blackheath, Sandwell.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blackheath, Sandwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowley | 1,042 | 73.7 | -38% |
| Langley | 1,694 | 110.3 | -7% |
| Cradley Heath and Old Hill | 1,516 | 96.6 | -18% |
| Tividale | 802 | 65.4 | -45% |
| Bristnall | 1,106 | 80.6 | -32% |
| Old Warley | 794 | 66.1 | -44% |
| Oldbury | 1,964 | 124.7 | +6% |
| St Pauls | 1,859 | 92.8 | -21% |
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 Blackheath, Sandwell over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 305 |
| On or near Rowley Village | 153 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 70 |
| On or near George Avenue | 40 |
| On or near Hawes Lane | 39 |
| On or near Powke Lane | 34 |
| On or near Payne Street | 33 |
| On or near Long Lane | 27 |
| On or near Grange Road | 26 |
| On or near Cross Street | 25 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Blackheath, Sandwell 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 | 506 | 35.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 428 | 30.2% |
| Under investigation | 159 | 11.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 158 | 11.1% |
| Local resolution | 53 | 3.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 45 | 3.2% |
| Not recorded | 35 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 15 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Blackheath, Sandwell has an estimated population of 12,018. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Blackheath, Sandwell sits in decile 3.7, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Blackheath, Sandwell |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.9% |
| Social rented homes | 23.9% |
| Private rented homes | 12.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.7 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 14.1% |
Is Blackheath, Sandwell a safe place to live?
Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 118.1 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 Blackheath, Sandwell?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 550 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (388).
Is crime in Blackheath, Sandwell going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blackheath, Sandwell was up 4% on the year before: 1,419 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,363 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Blackheath, Sandwell?
Blackheath, Sandwell 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 Blackheath, Sandwell. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.