Birmingham Crime Overview

Birmingham is the most dangerous major city in the West Midlands, and is among the top 10 most dangerous overall out of the West Midlands's 44 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Birmingham in 2020 was 103 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to the West Midlands's overall crime rate, coming in 11% higher than the West Midlands rate of 91 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Birmingham is the third safest major city, and the 452nd most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In December 2020, Birmingham had the worst crime rate in the West Midlands for bicycle theft, with 64 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.06 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2020 was also a bad month for Birmingham residents, when it was the West Midlands's most dangerous area for burglary, recording 774 crimes at a rate of 0.67 per 1,000 residents. Birmingham recorded 946 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2020, making its crime rate of 0.82 the worst for criminal damage and arson in the West Midlands that month.

The most common crimes in Birmingham are violence and sexual offences, with 54,655 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 47. This is 21% higher than 2019's figure of 43,230 offences and a difference of 9.85 from 2019's crime rate of 37. Birmingham's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 1,041 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 9% from 2019's figure of 1138 crimes.

Compare Birmingham to other towns and cities

See how Birmingham shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Birmingham and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.

Birmingham Crime Map

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Crime in Birmingham Compared To West Midlands

Summary of Crimes in Birmingham This Year

 BirminghamWest Midlands 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour24,43421.0654,08418.4712% more dangerous
Bicycle Theft1,0410.902,2770.7813% more dangerous
Burglary8,7247.5219,5956.6911% more dangerous
Criminal Damage and Arson9,3538.0621,9107.487% more dangerous
Drugs2,8712.475,9122.0218% more dangerous
Other Crime2,2231.925,4801.872.6% more dangerous
Other Theft7,7656.6916,5355.6516% more dangerous
Possession of Weapons1,6131.393,2831.1219% more dangerous
Public Order10,9309.4223,7988.1314% more dangerous
Robbery3,7853.266,8322.3329% more dangerous
Shoplifting4,1493.5811,5353.9410% safer
Theft From the Person1,2331.062,1620.7430% more dangerous
Vehicle Crime11,0149.4926,8569.173.4% more dangerous
Violence and Sexual Offences54,65547.11120,78041.2412% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Birmingham

View crime percentage over time for

Birmingham Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour21171421Getting worse
Bicycle Theft1.21.20.980.90Safer
Burglary101198Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson10998Safer
Drugs1.82.02.62.5Getting worse
Other Crime1.31.31.61.9Getting worse
Other Theft9997Safer
Possession of Weapons0.770.951.31.4Getting worse
Public Order4.4679Getting worse
Robbery (inc. mugging)3.53.84.33.3Safer
Shoplifting7653.6Safer
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)1.51.71.71.1Safer
Vehicle Crime1413129Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences24303747Getting worse

Changes In Birmingham's Crime Rates Over Time

Offences in Birmingham's Green Spaces

We only display green spaces in Birmingham that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2020.

NameASBDrugsPublic OrderRobberyVSOAll OthersCrimes per Hectare
Aldridge Road Recreation Ground2----00.16
Allens Cross Community Association Playing Fields1-211725
Billesley Common8----00.41
Bleak Hill Recreation Ground9---13979
Brookvale Park7-411161.2
Cannon Hill Park48141715241.6
Chapelhouse Park1---273.8
Cotteridge Park10-12552.4
Dawberry Fields Neighbourhood Park3---582.9
Handsworth Park3-22770.76
Hay Barn Recreation Ground-1--331.8
Henry Barber Recreation Ground6-11427
Highbury Park5-21720.60
Hodge Hill Common1-5-962.6
Kents Moat Recreation Ground1---7411
King's Heath Park11----11.1
King's Norton Park21117754.2
Kingstanding Recreation Ground214157392211
Moseley Park1---321.3
Oaklands Recreation Ground16-14661.7
Perry Hall Playing Fields71-4100.21
Rowheath Playing Fields3----00.29
Rowheath Playing Fields7----02.0
Salford Park181--2113.3
Sandwell Recreation Ground1----00.26
Shenley Fields Road Recreation Ground-111676
Small Heath Park18-24642.0
St Paul's Church9---2514
Stechford Hall Park2--2451.5
Swanshurst Park9--2751.3
The Leys-----10.44
Victoria Common6-11321.5
Woodlands Park1-1-942.2

Comparing Birmingham to the UK's Major Cities

Major CityCrime RateRate Difference
Barnet67.7152% safer
Coventry77.4133% safer
Croydon83.2224% safer
Sheffield85.8120% safer
Bristol86.2119% safer
Leicester97.446% safer
Birmingham102.87-
Liverpool107.284.1% more dangerous
Bradford133.0223% more dangerous
Leeds137.1025% more dangerous

Crime in Birmingham's Neighbourhoods

Central is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Birmingham, followed by Digbeth in second place, and North Central & Dartmouth Circus as the third most dangerous area. Birmingham's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Hollywood & Drakes Cross, Wythall & Gay Hill, and Yardley Wood East.

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Acocks Green East1,22610062nd
Acocks Green West9489865th
Allens Cross1,307172Fourth
Aston Park83010257th
Attwood Green & Park Central1,09811243rd
Balsall Heath East7869670th
Balsall Heath West & Kingswood Road78210847th
Belchers Lane & Eastfield Road9819572nd
Billesley Common7519275th
Birches Green96812527th
Birchfield East1,656154Tenth
Birchfield West1,17910851st
Bordesley2,16513819th
Bordesley Green North8228196th
Bournville East & Stirchley West61577105th
Bournville West5899571st
Brandhall7058591st
Brandwood East50079100th
Brandwood End48960114th
Brandwood North36756115th
Bromford63911437th
Brookvale1,620166Seventh
Buckland End89210848th
California88811045th
Castle Vale1,38014216th
Central3,915467First
Chelmsley Wood West88414813th
Cotteridge6159080th
Digbeth1,947262Second
Druids Heath89314215th
Edgbaston North1,21510849th
Edgbaston South & University91275106th
Erdington Town1,351163Eighth
Five Ways North1,22614514th
Five Ways South & Calthorpe Park6478984th
Fordbridge71011339th
Fox Hollies9139079th
Frankley1,22613818th
Glebe Farm1,00910256th
Gravelly Hill & South Erdington2,16415111th
Greet & Sparkhill South1,56010058th
Hall Green Central34049122nd
Hall Green East5668690th
Handsworth East1,03611242nd
Handsworth South1,64314117th
Handsworth West99410553rd
Handsworth Wood56255118th
Harborne East7068494th
Harborne West65478101st
Hawkesley1,258168Fifth
Hay Mills & Tyseley93712034th
Hockley & Jewellery Quarter96510060th
Hodge Hill7638098th
Hollywood & Drakes Cross28447124th
Kent's Moat5658493rd
King's Norton44764111st
Kings Heath91611635th
Kings Heath Park & Stirchley East6629178th
Kingstanding South East1,28012329th
Kingstanding South West36755116th
Kitts Green1,12413621st
Ladywood -Summer Hill1,12813820th
Lifford & Walkers Heath63310555th
Little Bromwich60267109th
Longbridge North8019667th
Longbridge South73210063rd
Lozells East77810061st
Lozells West1,16912824th
Lyndon Green37760113rd
Metchley1,13913023rd
Middlemore1,38212726th
Minworth42278102nd
Moor Green & Cannon Hill54078103rd
Moseley34651119th
Moseley Village1,14912825th
Nechells83412231st
North Central & Dartmouth Circus2,991204Third
Northfield Victoria Common6628787th
Old Oscott5348885th
Perry Barr & South Hamstead7398983rd
Perry Beeches East32650120th
Perry Beeches West36649123rd
Perry Common - College Road99810554th
Pype Hayes Park7658689th
Queslett6379964th
Quinton East95211240th
Quinton Ridgacre1,03511338th
Rotton Park9028788th
Rubery East5948886th
Saltley East1,0909374th
Saltley West8699668th
Selly Oak1,22369108th
Selly Oak Park & Lodge Hill5738395th
Shard End & Kingfisher6999573rd
Sheldon North1,08912133rd
Sheldon South1,14411436th
Shenley Lane61677104th
Short Heath7349081st
Small Heath Park7587999th
Smith's Wood North5619669th
Smith's Wood South70910752nd
Sparkbrook North1,389167Sixth
Sparkbrook South74910059th
Sparkhill North57965110th
Springfield & Hall Green West8878197th
Stechford1,12213022nd
Stirchley North & Selly Park87511144th
Stockland Green - Marsh Hill88712330th
Summerfield1,675157Ninth
Turves Green1,14512428th
Upper Witton6569277th
Wake Green East & Moseley Bog50362112nd
Ward End & Bromford West1,0728492nd
Warley South30449121st
Warley West44555117th
Washwood Heath9339276th
Weoley Castle85710850th
West Heath53570107th
Winson Green & Gib Heath1,77014812th
Woodgate74810946th
Wythall & Gay Hill27344125th
Yardley7598982nd
Yardley Fields1,33612232nd
Yardley South68011241st
Yardley Wood East33443126th
Yardley Wood West5949766th

Birmingham Neighbourhood Crime Breakdown

Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Birmingham for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.

Crime TypeSafest NeighbourhoodMost Dangerous Neighbourhood
Anti-Social BehaviourPerry Beeches West (52)Central (732)
Bicycle TheftBelchers Lane & Eastfield Road (1)Edgbaston South & University (142)
BurglaryKent's Moat (20)Hawkesley (249)
Criminal Damage and ArsonHall Green Central (17)Central (212)
DrugsBrandwood North (3)Central (185)
Other CrimeYardley Wood East (2)Summerfield (50)
Other TheftWarley South (4)Central (406)
Possession of WeaponsHandsworth Wood (1)Central (84)
Public OrderHollywood & Drakes Cross (10)Central (430)
Robbery (inc. mugging)Hollywood & Drakes Cross (1)Central (202)
ShopliftingHandsworth Wood (1)Central (559)
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)Kingstanding South East (1)Central (249)
Vehicle CrimeSparkhill North (33)Digbeth (187)
Violence and Sexual OffencesWythall & Gay Hill (82)Central (1,153)

Crime in Birmingham During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Birmingham change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in May, when Birmingham saw a 139% increase in anti-social behaviour. Birmingham saw a large fall in theft from the person during May, when it fell by 72% compared to May in 2019. Birmingham saw consistent falls in the crime rate of several types of crime during every month of its Coronavirus lockdown, including burglary, robbery, and vehicle crime.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour-2%+131%+139%+48%+2%+49%+57%+86%+134%+75%
Bicycle Theft-57%-39%-30%-1%-10%-28%-13%+54%+27%+21%
Burglary-24%-33%-36%-25%-26%-3%-5%+2%-13%-23%
Criminal Damage and Arson-16%-30%-15%-5%+3%+6%-3%-1%+11%+8%
Drugs-33%-3%+8%-16%-21%-7%-18%-6%+33%+15%
Other Crime+6%-19%-+11%+16%-6%+65%+55%+35%+70%
Other Theft-17%-41%-41%-40%-21%-26%-13%-21%-15%-12%
Possession of Weapons-35%-12%-13%-5%-1%+11%+19%+26%+42%+78%
Public Order+5%+3%+37%+40%+27%+42%+48%+31%+43%+54%
Robbery-33%-60%-46%-24%-17%+1%-22%-25%0%-23%
Shoplifting-35%-58%-55%-53%-46%-38%-25%-30%-22%-11%
Theft From the Person-22%-67%-72%-71%-40%-45%-24%-30%-41%-47%
Vehicle Crime-27%-43%-40%-33%-27%-12%+1%0%-4%-9%
Violence and Sexual Offences+0%0%+13%+23%+21%+32%+39%+32%+43%+47%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Birmingham

What police force serves Birmingham?
Birmingham's local territorial police force is the West Midlands Police.
How dangerous is Birmingham?
Birmingham is the most dangerous major city in the West Midlands.
What is Birmingham's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Birmingham are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in Birmingham?
Birmingham's least common crime is bicycle theft.

Last updated: 07 May 2021