Crime in St Matthew's, Walsall: statistics, rates and trends
2,696 crimes were recorded in St Matthew's, Walsall in the 12 months to July 2026, 162.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St Matthew's, Walsall at a glance
- Crime trends in St Matthew's, Walsall
- Types of crime in St Matthew's, Walsall
- St Matthew's, Walsall compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St Matthew's, Walsall
- What happened after crimes were reported in St Matthew's, Walsall
- Population and deprivation in St Matthew's, Walsall
- Questions about crime in St Matthew's, Walsall
- About this data
2,696 crimes were recorded in St Matthew's, Walsall in the 12 months to July 2026, 162.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,034 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St Matthew's, Walsall has the 348th highest crime rate.
| Measure | St Matthew's, Walsall | Walsall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,696 | 30,398 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 162.3 | 102.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | +0% | -1% |
| Population | 16,615 | 295,678 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St Matthew's, Walsall was highest in the year to July 2022 (3,020 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (2,300). Over the whole period it rose 14%, 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 | 2,696 | 162.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,607 | 156.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,917 | 175.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,799 | 168.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 3,020 | 181.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,717 | 163.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,341 | 140.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,300 | 138.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,361 | 142.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 264 |
| June 2026 | 204 |
| May 2026 | 233 |
| April 2026 | 237 |
| March 2026 | 223 |
| February 2026 | 203 |
| January 2026 | 208 |
| December 2025 | 217 |
| November 2025 | 226 |
| October 2025 | 239 |
| September 2025 | 238 |
| August 2025 | 204 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St Matthew's, Walsall 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, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in robbery (+59%) and drugs (+34%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-55%) and other crime (-22%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,034 | 62.2 | 1.82 | +8% |
| Shoplifting | 352 | 21.2 | 2.56 | -13% |
| Vehicle crime | 197 | 11.9 | 2.41 | +24% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 194 | 11.7 | 1.72 | +22% |
| Public order | 169 | 10.2 | 1.53 | +32% |
| Other theft | 160 | 9.6 | 1.51 | +13% |
| Drugs | 143 | 8.6 | 2.63 | +34% |
| Burglary | 124 | 7.5 | 2.11 | +33% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 107 | 6.4 | 0.42 | -55% |
| Robbery | 78 | 4.7 | 3.48 | +59% |
| Possession of weapons | 63 | 3.8 | 3.90 | -9% |
| Other crime | 45 | 2.7 | 1.28 | -22% |
| Theft from the person | 22 | 1.3 | 0.78 | -19% |
| Bicycle theft | 8 | 0.5 | 0.58 | -53% |
Violence and sexual offences in St Matthew's, Walsall
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 1,034 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (62.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 38.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in St Matthew's, Walsall
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 352 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St Matthew's, Walsall
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 197 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St Matthew's, Walsall
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 194 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St Matthew's, Walsall
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 169 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St Matthew's, Walsall
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 160 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St Matthew's, Walsall
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 143 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St Matthew's, Walsall
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 124 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St Matthew's, Walsall
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 107 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St Matthew's, Walsall
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 59% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St Matthew's, Walsall
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St Matthew's, Walsall
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in St Matthew's, Walsall
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St Matthew's, Walsall
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 53% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St Matthew's, Walsall, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St Matthew's, Walsall.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St Matthew's, Walsall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddock | 628 | 46.2 | -72% |
| Palfrey | 1,466 | 82.2 | -49% |
| Pleck | 2,412 | 133.5 | -18% |
| Birchills Leamore | 4,343 | 224.1 | +38% |
| Blakenall | 1,873 | 105.5 | -35% |
| Bentley and Darlaston North | 1,769 | 121.9 | -25% |
| Rushall-Shelfield | 909 | 73.1 | -55% |
| Aldridge Central and South | 1,012 | 69.1 | -57% |
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 St Matthew's, Walsall over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near George Street | 234 |
| On or near Parking Area | 189 |
| On or near Supermarket | 162 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 97 |
| On or near Nightclub | 75 |
| On or near Newhall Street | 66 |
| On or near Sister Dora Gardens | 63 |
| On or near Bradford Street | 53 |
| On or near Arboretum Road | 52 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 51 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St Matthew's, Walsall 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 | 1,022 | 37.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 969 | 35.9% |
| Under investigation | 198 | 7.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 140 | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 125 | 4.6% |
| Not recorded | 107 | 4.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 67 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 44 | 1.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% |
St Matthew's, Walsall has an estimated population of 16,615. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St Matthew's, Walsall sits in decile 3.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St Matthew's, Walsall |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 65.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 44.2% |
| Social rented homes | 32.3% |
| Private rented homes | 23.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 56.1% |
Is St Matthew's, Walsall a safe place to live?
St Matthew's, Walsall recorded 162.3 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 St Matthew's, Walsall?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,034 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (352).
Is crime in St Matthew's, Walsall going up or down?
Recorded crime in St Matthew's, Walsall was up 3% on the year before: 2,696 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,607 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St Matthew's, Walsall?
St Matthew's, Walsall 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 St Matthew's, Walsall. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.