Crime in Birmingham: statistics, rates and trends
147,772 crimes were recorded in Birmingham in the 12 months to August 2026, 128.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Birmingham at a glance
- Crime trends in Birmingham
- Types of crime in Birmingham
- Birmingham compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Birmingham
- Streets with the most crime in Birmingham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Birmingham
- Demographics of Birmingham
- Questions about crime in Birmingham
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (63,551), vehicle crime (12,404) and shoplifting (12,153) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 130th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Birmingham | Birmingham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 147,772 | 146,681 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 128.4 | 123.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 1,150,767 | 1,183,618 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Birmingham peaked in the year to August 2022 (175,156 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (126,677). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 17%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 147,772 | 128.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 151,101 | 131.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 155,648 | 135.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 165,944 | 144.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 175,156 | 152.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 165,299 | 143.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 133,727 | 116.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 133,183 | 115.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 126,677 | 110.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 12,971 |
| July 2026 | 14,288 |
| June 2026 | 13,325 |
| May 2026 | 13,113 |
| April 2026 | 12,184 |
| March 2026 | 12,312 |
| February 2026 | 10,759 |
| January 2026 | 11,301 |
| December 2025 | 11,482 |
| November 2025 | 11,802 |
| October 2025 | 12,373 |
| September 2025 | 11,862 |
Compared with England and Wales, Birmingham recorded notably more possession of weapons (3.3 times the national rate), robbery (2.3 times the national rate) and vehicle crime (2.2 times the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (69% below) and bicycle theft (26% below). On the year before, theft from the person rose from 1,454 to 1,763, while anti-social behaviour fell from 12,156 to 5,510.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 63,551 | 55.2 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 12,404 | 10.8 | 5.0 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 12,153 | 10.6 | 8.5 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 11,894 | 10.3 | 6.7 | +10% |
| Public order | 9,234 | 8.0 | 6.7 | +12% |
| Other theft | 9,189 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 0% |
| Burglary | 6,661 | 5.8 | 3.6 | -3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 5,510 | 4.8 | 15.4 | -55% |
| Drugs | 4,934 | 4.3 | 3.3 | +2% |
| Possession of weapons | 3,651 | 3.2 | 1.0 | +9% |
| Robbery | 3,542 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0% |
| Other crime | 2,587 | 2.2 | 2.1 | -9% |
| Theft from the person | 1,763 | 1.5 | 1.7 | +21% |
| Bicycle theft | 699 | 0.6 | 0.8 | -10% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Birmingham; the highest is Blackheath (134.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Pheasey (39.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birmingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smethwick | 6,591 | 109.4 | -15% |
| Solihull | 8,679 | 80.3 | -37% |
| Oldbury (Sandwell) | 4,491 | 95.5 | -26% |
| Hollywood | 239 | 39.5 | -69% |
| Pheasey | 391 | 39.1 | -70% |
| West Bromwich | 11,594 | 107.9 | -16% |
| Blackheath | 1,208 | 134.4 | +5% |
| Royal Sutton Coldfield | 6,595 | 72.2 | -44% |
Of the 69 areas within Birmingham, Ladywood had the highest crime rate (410.7 per 1,000) and Cofton the lowest (28.6), 14 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladywood | Neighbourhood | 26,701 | 10,966 | 410.7 |
| Bordesley & Highgate | Neighbourhood | 19,588 | 6,143 | 313.6 |
| Nechells | Neighbourhood | 24,102 | 5,008 | 207.8 |
| Bickenhill | Neighbourhood | 13,653 | 2,655 | 194.5 |
| Soho & Jewellery Quarter | Neighbourhood | 28,702 | 5,431 | 189.2 |
| Chelmsley Wood | Neighbourhood | 14,082 | 2,380 | 169.0 |
| Handsworth | Neighbourhood | 12,704 | 2,083 | 164.0 |
| Perry Barr | Neighbourhood | 21,776 | 3,176 | 145.8 |
| Bordesley Green | Neighbourhood | 13,829 | 2,002 | 144.8 |
| Stockland Green | Neighbourhood | 26,714 | 3,804 | 142.4 |
| Castle Vale | Neighbourhood | 10,243 | 1,439 | 140.5 |
| Holyhead | Neighbourhood | 12,182 | 1,681 | 138.0 |
| Northfield | Neighbourhood | 11,707 | 1,615 | 138.0 |
| Newtown | Neighbourhood | 14,856 | 2,038 | 137.2 |
| South Yardley | Neighbourhood | 8,628 | 1,183 | 137.1 |
| Gravelly Hill | Neighbourhood | 9,158 | 1,254 | 136.9 |
| Pype Hayes | Neighbourhood | 11,267 | 1,539 | 136.6 |
| Heartlands | Neighbourhood | 14,019 | 1,907 | 136.0 |
| Acocks Green | Neighbourhood | 26,841 | 3,622 | 134.9 |
| Garretts Green | Neighbourhood | 9,438 | 1,255 | 133.0 |
| Yardley West & Stechford | Neighbourhood | 15,809 | 2,102 | 133.0 |
| Harborne | Neighbourhood | 24,122 | 3,157 | 130.9 |
| Erdington | Neighbourhood | 21,731 | 2,831 | 130.3 |
| Brandwood & King's Heath | Neighbourhood | 19,911 | 2,587 | 129.9 |
| Glebe Farm & Tile Cross | Neighbourhood | 27,331 | 3,507 | 128.3 |
| North Edgbaston | Neighbourhood | 24,888 | 3,187 | 128.1 |
| Aston | Neighbourhood | 22,659 | 2,901 | 128.0 |
| Highter's Heath | Neighbourhood | 10,618 | 1,347 | 126.9 |
| Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East | Neighbourhood | 27,700 | 3,507 | 126.6 |
| Bromford & Hodge Hill | Neighbourhood | 23,325 | 2,885 | 123.7 |
| Sheldon | Neighbourhood | 21,969 | 2,703 | 123.0 |
| Tyseley & Hay Mills | Neighbourhood | 13,934 | 1,696 | 121.7 |
| Lozells | Neighbourhood | 13,098 | 1,574 | 120.2 |
| Frankley Great Park | Neighbourhood | 13,370 | 1,598 | 119.5 |
| Kingshurst and Fordbridge | Neighbourhood | 13,178 | 1,556 | 118.1 |
| King's Norton South | Neighbourhood | 12,216 | 1,441 | 118.0 |
| Birchfield | Neighbourhood | 12,544 | 1,457 | 116.2 |
| Bournville & Cotteridge | Neighbourhood | 23,641 | 2,735 | 115.7 |
| Stirchley | Neighbourhood | 9,530 | 1,079 | 113.2 |
| Longbridge & West Heath | Neighbourhood | 23,034 | 2,598 | 112.8 |
| Moseley | Neighbourhood | 23,157 | 2,606 | 112.5 |
| Shard End | Neighbourhood | 10,974 | 1,215 | 110.7 |
| Bournbrook & Selly Park | Neighbourhood | 19,746 | 2,160 | 109.4 |
| Kingstanding | Neighbourhood | 22,654 | 2,412 | 106.5 |
| Bartley Green | Neighbourhood | 23,615 | 2,451 | 103.8 |
| Ward End | Neighbourhood | 13,991 | 1,431 | 102.3 |
| Balsall Heath West | Neighbourhood | 12,874 | 1,305 | 101.4 |
| Perry Common | Neighbourhood | 12,760 | 1,281 | 100.4 |
| Sparkhill | Neighbourhood | 20,350 | 1,978 | 97.2 |
| Druids Heath & Monyhull | Neighbourhood | 10,455 | 1,008 | 96.4 |
| Rubery & Rednal | Neighbourhood | 9,246 | 883 | 95.5 |
| Weoley & Selly Oak | Neighbourhood | 23,232 | 2,204 | 94.9 |
| Rubery North | Neighbourhood | 4,508 | 425 | 94.3 |
| Edgbaston | Neighbourhood | 16,546 | 1,533 | 92.7 |
| Smith's Wood | Neighbourhood | 12,510 | 1,151 | 92.0 |
| Alum Rock | Neighbourhood | 27,103 | 2,382 | 87.9 |
| King's Norton North | Neighbourhood | 10,724 | 933 | 87.0 |
| Quinton | Neighbourhood | 21,577 | 1,872 | 86.8 |
| Allens Cross | Neighbourhood | 10,298 | 893 | 86.7 |
| Hall Green North | Neighbourhood | 26,404 | 2,148 | 81.4 |
| Handsworth Wood | Neighbourhood | 20,489 | 1,664 | 81.2 |
| Billesley | Neighbourhood | 22,237 | 1,783 | 80.2 |
| Castle Bromwich | Neighbourhood | 11,655 | 907 | 77.8 |
| Oscott | Neighbourhood | 19,550 | 1,426 | 72.9 |
| Small Heath | Neighbourhood | 22,284 | 1,564 | 70.2 |
| Yardley East | Neighbourhood | 12,010 | 840 | 69.9 |
| Hall Green South | Neighbourhood | 10,288 | 486 | 47.2 |
| Rubery South | Neighbourhood | 2,078 | 63 | 30.3 |
| Cofton | Neighbourhood | 2,798 | 80 | 28.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 19% of the crime recorded in Birmingham over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (7,666).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 7,666 |
| On or near Supermarket | 5,726 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 4,290 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 4,161 |
| On or near Hospital | 1,411 |
| On or near High Street | 1,169 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 1,164 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 1,085 |
| On or near Worcester Street | 1,080 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 1,044 |
Of the 142,262 crimes in Birmingham with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 5,510 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 56,325 | 39.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 51,663 | 36.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 12,544 | 8.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7,093 | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 5,311 | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 3,819 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 3,383 | 2.4% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1,212 | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 685 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 92 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 81 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 37 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Birmingham has an estimated population of 1,150,767 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more unemployed residents (6.1%, against 3.4%), more students (13.8%, against 7.9%) and more social housing (25%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Birmingham average decile 2.7 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Birmingham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 49.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 6.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 14.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 13.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 28.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 33.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 51.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 25.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 22.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.7 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 48.0% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Birmingham a safe place to live?
Birmingham recorded 128.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 130th of the 1,390 towns 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 Birmingham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 63,551 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by vehicle crime (12,404).
Is crime in Birmingham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birmingham was down 2% on the year before: 147,772 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 151,101 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Birmingham?
About 1,150,767 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 12% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Birmingham?
Birmingham 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.