Crime in Blackheath, Sandwell: statistics, rates and trends
1,452 crimes were recorded in Blackheath, Sandwell in the 12 months to August 2026, 120.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Blackheath, Sandwell
- Questions about crime in Blackheath, Sandwell
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (557), shoplifting (420) and public order (83) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 813th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Blackheath, Sandwell | Sandwell | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,452 | 36,370 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 120.8 | 102.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 12,018 | 353,860 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Blackheath, Sandwell peaked in the year to August 2022 (1,519 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (991). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 47%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,452 | 120.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,366 | 113.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,239 | 103.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,406 | 117.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,519 | 126.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,429 | 118.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,133 | 94.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,078 | 89.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 991 | 82.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 129 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Blackheath, Sandwell recorded notably more shoplifting (4.1 times the national rate), possession of weapons (2.2 times the national rate) and robbery (83% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (85% below) and drugs (34% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 219 to 420, while anti-social behaviour fell from 127 to 28 and vehicle crime fell from 89 to 58.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 557 | 46.3 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 420 | 34.9 | 8.5 | +92% |
| Public order | 83 | 6.9 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 73 | 6.1 | 6.7 | -16% |
| Other theft | 70 | 5.8 | 6.4 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 58 | 4.8 | 5.0 | -35% |
| Burglary | 46 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 0% |
| Robbery | 30 | 2.5 | 1.4 | -9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 28 | 2.3 | 15.4 | -78% |
| Other crime | 28 | 2.3 | 2.1 | +8% |
| Drugs | 26 | 2.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 26 | 2.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Blackheath, Sandwell; the highest is Oldbury (130.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Tividale (66.2).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blackheath, Sandwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowley | 1,014 | 71.7 | -41% |
| Langley | 1,688 | 109.9 | -9% |
| Cradley Heath and Old Hill | 1,517 | 96.7 | -20% |
| Tividale | 811 | 66.2 | -45% |
| Bristnall | 1,119 | 81.6 | -32% |
| Old Warley | 828 | 68.9 | -43% |
| Oldbury | 2,051 | 130.2 | +8% |
| St Pauls | 1,820 | 90.9 | -25% |
The 10 locations below account for 54% of the crime recorded in Blackheath, Sandwell over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (316).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 316 |
| On or near Rowley Village | 169 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 78 |
| On or near George Avenue | 37 |
| On or near Hawes Lane | 37 |
| On or near Payne Street | 34 |
| On or near Powke Lane | 31 |
| On or near Grange Road | 29 |
| On or near Long Lane | 28 |
| On or near Cross Street | 27 |
Of the 1,424 crimes in Blackheath, Sandwell with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 12% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 28 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 524 | 36.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 434 | 30.5% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 176 | 12.4% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 139 | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 60 | 4.2% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 54 | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 1.0% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Blackheath, Sandwell has an estimated population of 12,018 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (27%, against 18%), more social housing (24%, against 17%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (21%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Blackheath, Sandwell average decile 3.7 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Blackheath, Sandwell | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 20.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 26.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 25.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 23.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.7 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 14.1% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Blackheath, Sandwell a safe place to live?
Blackheath, Sandwell recorded 120.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 813th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and possession of weapons.
What is the most common crime in Blackheath, Sandwell?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 557 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (420).
Is crime in Blackheath, Sandwell going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blackheath, Sandwell was up 6% on the year before: 1,452 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,366 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Blackheath, Sandwell?
About 12,018 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Blackheath, Sandwell?
Blackheath, Sandwell is policed by West Midlands.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.