Crime in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East: statistics, rates and trends

3,507 crimes were recorded in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East in the 12 months to August 2026, 126.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.

Crime map

Circle size: number of crimesSeptember 2025 to August 2026. Source: data.police.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0

Violence and sexual offences (1,523), vehicle crime (306) and drugs (288) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 743rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.

MeasureSparkbrook & Balsall Heath EastBirminghamEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to August 20263,507146,6815,618,064
Crimes per 1,000 residents126.6123.996.7
Change on previous 12 months+6%-2%-1%
Population27,7001,183,61858,127,638

Recorded crime in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East peaked in the year to August 2021 (3,858 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (2,626). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 34%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to August 20263,507126.696.7
Year to August 20253,297119.097.2
Year to August 20243,181114.897.9
Year to August 20233,551128.2n/a
Year to August 20223,793136.9102.0
Year to August 20213,858139.3101.4
Year to August 20202,76199.7102.7
Year to August 20192,879103.9101.7
Year to August 20182,62694.8100.8

Month by month

MonthCrimes
August 2026318
July 2026325
June 2026323
May 2026321
April 2026283
March 2026316
February 2026267
January 2026276
December 2025274
November 2025276
October 2025248
September 2025280

Compared with England and Wales, Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East recorded notably more possession of weapons (4.3 times the national rate), drugs (3.2 times the national rate) and robbery (2.3 times the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (83% below) and anti-social behaviour (80% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 161 to 288 and other theft rose from 159 to 262, while anti-social behaviour fell from 240 to 84 and shoplifting fell from 47 to 39.

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000Change on year
Violence and sexual offences1,52355.034.2-2%
Vehicle crime30611.05.0+17%
Drugs28810.43.3+79%
Criminal damage and arson2729.86.7+17%
Other theft2629.56.4+65%
Public order2037.36.7+8%
Burglary1696.13.6+46%
Possession of weapons1164.21.0+3%
Other crime1134.12.1+23%
Robbery853.11.4-1%
Anti-social behaviour843.015.4-65%
Shoplifting391.48.5-17%
Theft from the person331.21.7+27%
Bicycle theft140.50.8n/a

What each category covers: crime categories.

2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East; the highest is Bordesley & Highgate (313.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Small Heath (70.2).

NeighbourhoodCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East
Sparkhill1,97897.2-23%
Moseley2,606112.5-11%
Balsall Heath West1,305101.4-20%
Bordesley & Highgate6,143313.6+148%
Bordesley Green2,002144.8+14%
Small Heath1,56470.2-45%
Tyseley & Hay Mills1,696121.7-4%
Hall Green North2,14881.4-36%

The 10 locations below account for 32% of the crime recorded in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (365).

LocationCrimes
On or near Parking Area365
On or near Petrol Station161
On or near Larches Street137
On or near Beach Brook Close75
On or near Further/Higher Educational Building73
On or near Medina Road68
On or near Spark Street65
On or near Braithwaite Road64
On or near Gough Road62
On or near Oakley Road61

Of the 3,423 crimes in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East with a recorded outcome, 35% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 84 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.

OutcomeCrimesShareEngland and Wales
Unable to prosecute suspect1,37740.2%34.5%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified1,19935.0%35.3%
Local resolution2657.7%3.1%
Under investigation2607.6%11.5%
Awaiting court outcome1233.6%5.2%
Status update unavailable872.5%4.7%
Court result unavailable762.2%2.5%
Action to be taken by another organisation230.7%1.3%
Offender given a caution100.3%0.6%
Formal action is not in the public interest20.1%0.3%
Further investigation is not in the public interest10.0%0.5%

Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East has an estimated population of 27,700 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more unemployed residents (7.3%, against 3.4%), more students (16.2%, against 7.9%) and more residents with no qualifications (35%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East average decile 1.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.

MeasureSparkbrook & Balsall Heath EastEngland and Wales
Aged 0 to 1526.5%18.3%
Aged 65 and over7.8%18.9%
Residents 16+ in work38.1%57.2%
Residents 16+ unemployed7.3%3.4%
Residents 16+ retired8.9%21.6%
Residents 16+ who are students16.2%7.9%
Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar)20.0%33.8%
Residents 16+ with no qualifications34.6%18.2%
Households with no car or van39.8%23.3%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage44.3%62.5%
Social rented homes29.9%17.1%
Private rented homes25.7%20.3%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)1.05.5 (England)
Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas100.0%10.1% (England)

Is Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East a safe place to live?

Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East recorded 126.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 743rd 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 drugs.

What is the most common crime in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,523 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by vehicle crime (306).

Is crime in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East going up or down?

Recorded crime in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East was up 6% on the year before: 3,507 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 3,297 in the previous 12 months.

What is the population of Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East?

About 27,700 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 7.8% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).

Which police force covers Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East?

Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East 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.

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