Crime in West Midlands: statistics, rates and trends

577,499 crimes were recorded in West Midlands in the 12 months to July 2026, 93.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 236,118 reports (41% of the total).

Of the 9 regions covered by this site, West Midlands has the 6th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in West Midlands was highest in the year to July 2022 (665,878 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (575,519). Over the whole period it fell 1%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Midlands 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 vehicle crime, possession of weapons. The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-20%).

Violence and sexual offences in West Midlands

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Midlands recorded 236,118 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (38.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 40.9% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in West Midlands

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Midlands recorded 54,977 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in West Midlands

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Midlands recorded 51,955 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in West Midlands

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Midlands recorded 44,723 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in West Midlands

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Midlands recorded 38,216 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in West Midlands

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Midlands recorded 37,303 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in West Midlands

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Midlands recorded 34,964 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in West Midlands

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Midlands recorded 24,450 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in West Midlands

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Midlands recorded 16,362 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in West Midlands

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Midlands recorded 11,981 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in West Midlands

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Midlands recorded 9,952 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in West Midlands

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Midlands recorded 9,179 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in West Midlands

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Midlands recorded 3,708 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in West Midlands

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Midlands recorded 3,611 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the regions closest to West Midlands, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Midlands.

14 areas within West Midlands, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Stoke-on-Trent had the highest rate (138.9 per 1,000) and Shropshire the lowest (58.0). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Midlands 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.

West Midlands has an estimated population of 6,187,204. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Midlands sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 West Midlands. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.