Crime in Wednesbury: statistics, rates and trends

2,548 crimes were recorded in Wednesbury in the 12 months to July 2026, 122.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 14% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 867 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Wednesbury has the 159th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Wednesbury was highest in the year to July 2023 (2,992 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (2,317). Over the whole period it rose 8%, 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 Wednesbury 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 shoplifting, vehicle crime, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in public order (+37%). The largest falls were in robbery (-54%) and anti-social behaviour (-53%).

Violence and sexual offences in Wednesbury

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wednesbury recorded 867 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (41.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 34.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Wednesbury

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wednesbury recorded 492 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 19.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Wednesbury

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wednesbury recorded 253 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Wednesbury

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wednesbury recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Wednesbury

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wednesbury recorded 164 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Wednesbury

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wednesbury recorded 144 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 37% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Wednesbury

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wednesbury recorded 98 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 53% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Wednesbury

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wednesbury recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Wednesbury

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wednesbury recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Wednesbury

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wednesbury recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Wednesbury

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wednesbury recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Wednesbury

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wednesbury recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 54% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Wednesbury

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wednesbury recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Wednesbury

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wednesbury recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

2 areas within Wednesbury, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Wednesbury North had the highest rate (125.8 per 1,000) and Friar Park the lowest (81.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Wednesbury over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wednesbury 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.

Wednesbury has an estimated population of 20,737. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wednesbury sits in decile 2.7, more deprived than average. 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 Wednesbury. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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