Crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill: statistics, rates and trends
1,517 crimes were recorded in Cradley Heath and Old Hill in the 12 months to August 2026, 96.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill at a glance
- Crime trends in Cradley Heath and Old Hill
- Types of crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill
- Cradley Heath and Old Hill compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cradley Heath and Old Hill
- Demographics of Cradley Heath and Old Hill
- Questions about crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (761), criminal damage and arson (135) and vehicle crime (105) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,321st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Cradley Heath and Old Hill | Sandwell | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,517 | 36,370 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 96.7 | 102.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 15,691 | 353,860 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill peaked in the year to August 2022 (1,896 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (1,436). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 6%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,517 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,596 | 101.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,632 | 104.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,774 | 113.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,896 | 120.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,842 | 117.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,522 | 97.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,584 | 100.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,436 | 91.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 125 |
| July 2026 | 162 |
| June 2026 | 116 |
| May 2026 | 130 |
| April 2026 | 154 |
| March 2026 | 120 |
| February 2026 | 122 |
| January 2026 | 112 |
| December 2025 | 119 |
| November 2025 | 129 |
| October 2025 | 127 |
| September 2025 | 101 |
Compared with England and Wales, Cradley Heath and Old Hill recorded notably more possession of weapons (3.0 times the national rate), violence and sexual offences (42% above the national rate) and vehicle crime (35% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (71% below) and shoplifting (51% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 22 to 41 and possession of weapons rose from 30 to 45, while shoplifting fell from 120 to 65 and anti-social behaviour fell from 128 to 71.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 761 | 48.5 | 34.2 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 135 | 8.6 | 6.7 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 105 | 6.7 | 5.0 | -20% |
| Public order | 98 | 6.2 | 6.7 | -8% |
| Other theft | 75 | 4.8 | 6.4 | -27% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 71 | 4.5 | 15.4 | -45% |
| Shoplifting | 65 | 4.1 | 8.5 | -46% |
| Burglary | 54 | 3.4 | 3.6 | -2% |
| Possession of weapons | 45 | 2.9 | 1.0 | +50% |
| Drugs | 41 | 2.6 | 3.3 | +86% |
| Robbery | 28 | 1.8 | 1.4 | +12% |
| Other crime | 26 | 1.7 | 2.1 | -32% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Cradley Heath and Old Hill; the highest is Oldbury (130.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Tividale (66.2).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cradley Heath and Old Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackheath | 1,452 | 120.8 | +25% |
| Rowley | 1,014 | 71.7 | -26% |
| Langley | 1,688 | 109.9 | +14% |
| Tividale | 811 | 66.2 | -32% |
| Old Warley | 828 | 68.9 | -29% |
| Bristnall | 1,119 | 81.6 | -16% |
| Oldbury | 2,051 | 130.2 | +35% |
| Tipton Green | 1,440 | 91.4 | -5% |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Cradley Heath and Old Hill over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (136).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 136 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 72 |
| On or near Woods Lane | 50 |
| On or near Queen Street | 49 |
| On or near Peartree Lane | 47 |
| On or near Beechcroft Road | 35 |
| On or near Meadow Walk | 35 |
| On or near Supermarket | 35 |
| On or near Waggon Street | 35 |
| On or near Woodcroft Close | 31 |
Of the 1,446 crimes in Cradley Heath and Old Hill with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 71 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 687 | 47.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 418 | 28.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 89 | 6.2% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 76 | 5.3% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 69 | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 43 | 3.0% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 27 | 1.9% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 22 | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 15 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
Cradley Heath and Old Hill has an estimated population of 15,691 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (28%, against 17%), more residents with no qualifications (27%, against 18%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (21%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cradley Heath and Old Hill average decile 3.2 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Cradley Heath and Old Hill | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 19.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 21.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 27.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 27.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 52.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 28.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.2 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 26.3% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Cradley Heath and Old Hill a safe place to live?
Cradley Heath and Old Hill recorded 96.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,321st 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 violence and sexual offences.
What is the most common crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 761 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (135).
Is crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cradley Heath and Old Hill was down 5% on the year before: 1,517 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,596 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cradley Heath and Old Hill?
About 15,691 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cradley Heath and Old Hill?
Cradley Heath and Old Hill 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.