Crime in Nechells: statistics, rates and trends
5,008 crimes were recorded in Nechells in the 12 months to August 2026, 207.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 12% on the year before.
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Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,852), shoplifting (564) and vehicle crime (417) made up 57% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 182nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Nechells | Birmingham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 5,008 | 146,681 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 207.8 | 123.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 24,102 | 1,183,618 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Nechells peaked in the year to August 2023 (6,341 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (4,108). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 22%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 5,008 | 207.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 5,680 | 235.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 5,868 | 243.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 6,341 | 263.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 5,910 | 245.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 4,754 | 197.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 4,115 | 170.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 4,514 | 187.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 4,108 | 170.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 402 |
| July 2026 | 478 |
| June 2026 | 426 |
| May 2026 | 419 |
| April 2026 | 443 |
| March 2026 | 412 |
| February 2026 | 354 |
| January 2026 | 396 |
| December 2025 | 387 |
| November 2025 | 457 |
| October 2025 | 370 |
| September 2025 | 464 |
Compared with England and Wales, Nechells recorded notably more possession of weapons (5.2 times the national rate), robbery (3.9 times the national rate) and drugs (3.5 times the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (48% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour fell from 482 to 193 and robbery fell from 210 to 128.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,852 | 76.8 | 34.2 | +9% |
| Shoplifting | 564 | 23.4 | 8.5 | -38% |
| Vehicle crime | 417 | 17.3 | 5.0 | -15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 390 | 16.2 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Other theft | 372 | 15.4 | 6.4 | +2% |
| Public order | 369 | 15.3 | 6.7 | +10% |
| Drugs | 279 | 11.6 | 3.3 | -15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 193 | 8.0 | 15.4 | -60% |
| Burglary | 155 | 6.4 | 3.6 | -9% |
| Robbery | 128 | 5.3 | 1.4 | -39% |
| Possession of weapons | 121 | 5.0 | 1.0 | +5% |
| Theft from the person | 87 | 3.6 | 1.7 | +7% |
| Other crime | 62 | 2.6 | 2.1 | -25% |
| Bicycle theft | 19 | 0.8 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Nechells; the highest is Ladywood (410.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Alum Rock (87.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Nechells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newtown | 2,038 | 137.2 | -34% |
| Aston | 2,901 | 128.0 | -38% |
| Bordesley & Highgate | 6,143 | 313.6 | +51% |
| Alum Rock | 2,382 | 87.9 | -58% |
| Lozells | 1,574 | 120.2 | -42% |
| Bordesley Green | 2,002 | 144.8 | -30% |
| Ladywood | 10,966 | 410.7 | +98% |
| Soho & Jewellery Quarter | 5,431 | 189.2 | -9% |
The 10 locations below account for 50% of the crime recorded in Nechells over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Moor Street” (598).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Moor Street | 598 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 436 |
| On or near Parking Area | 435 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 202 |
| On or near Hospital | 185 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 173 |
| On or near Masshouse Lane | 136 |
| On or near Well Lane | 133 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 102 |
| On or near Woodcock Street | 92 |
Of the 4,815 crimes in Nechells with a recorded outcome, 39% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 193 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,866 | 38.8% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,578 | 32.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 416 | 8.6% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 357 | 7.4% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 251 | 5.2% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 162 | 3.4% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 130 | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 32 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 21 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Nechells has an estimated population of 24,102 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (49.4%, against 7.9%), more unemployed residents (11.6%, against 3.4%) and more social housing (56%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Nechells average decile 2.9 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Nechells | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 4.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 31.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 11.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 5.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 49.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 54.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 18.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 56.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 24.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 52.9% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Nechells a safe place to live?
Nechells recorded 207.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 182nd 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 robbery.
What is the most common crime in Nechells?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,852 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (564).
Is crime in Nechells going up or down?
Recorded crime in Nechells was down 12% on the year before: 5,008 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 5,680 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Nechells?
About 24,102 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 4.9% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Nechells?
Nechells 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.