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
Summary of Crimes in Birmingham This Year
| Birmingham | West Midlands | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 24,434 | 21.06 | 54,084 | 18.47 | 12% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 1,041 | 0.90 | 2,277 | 0.78 | 13% more dangerous |
| Burglary | 8,724 | 7.52 | 19,595 | 6.69 | 11% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 9,353 | 8.06 | 21,910 | 7.48 | 7% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 2,871 | 2.47 | 5,912 | 2.02 | 18% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 2,223 | 1.92 | 5,480 | 1.87 | 2.6% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 7,765 | 6.69 | 16,535 | 5.65 | 16% more dangerous |
| Possession of Weapons | 1,613 | 1.39 | 3,283 | 1.12 | 19% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 10,930 | 9.42 | 23,798 | 8.13 | 14% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 3,785 | 3.26 | 6,832 | 2.33 | 29% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 4,149 | 3.58 | 11,535 | 3.94 | 10% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 1,233 | 1.06 | 2,162 | 0.74 | 30% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 11,014 | 9.49 | 26,856 | 9.17 | 3.4% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 54,655 | 47.11 | 120,780 | 41.24 | 12% more dangerous |
Crime in Birmingham Compared To West Midlands
Birmingham Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 21 | 17 | 14 | 21 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.98 | 0.90 | Safer |
| Burglary | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | Safer |
| Drugs | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.77 | 0.95 | 1.3 | 1.4 | Getting worse |
| Public Order | 4.4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.3 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3.6 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 24 | 30 | 37 | 47 | Getting worse |
Changes In Birmingham's Crime Rates Over Time
Comparing Birmingham to the UK's Major Cities
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.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acocks Green East | 1,226 | 100 | 62nd |
| Acocks Green West | 948 | 98 | 65th |
| Allens Cross | 1,307 | 172 | Fourth |
| Aston Park | 830 | 102 | 57th |
| Attwood Green & Park Central | 1,098 | 112 | 43rd |
| Balsall Heath East | 786 | 96 | 70th |
| Balsall Heath West & Kingswood Road | 782 | 108 | 47th |
| Belchers Lane & Eastfield Road | 981 | 95 | 72nd |
| Billesley Common | 751 | 92 | 75th |
| Birches Green | 968 | 125 | 27th |
| Birchfield East | 1,656 | 154 | Tenth |
| Birchfield West | 1,179 | 108 | 51st |
| Bordesley | 2,165 | 138 | 19th |
| Bordesley Green North | 822 | 81 | 96th |
| Bournville East & Stirchley West | 615 | 77 | 105th |
| Bournville West | 589 | 95 | 71st |
| Brandhall | 705 | 85 | 91st |
| Brandwood East | 500 | 79 | 100th |
| Brandwood End | 489 | 60 | 114th |
| Brandwood North | 367 | 56 | 115th |
| Bromford | 639 | 114 | 37th |
| Brookvale | 1,620 | 166 | Seventh |
| Buckland End | 892 | 108 | 48th |
| California | 888 | 110 | 45th |
| Castle Vale | 1,380 | 142 | 16th |
| Central | 3,915 | 467 | First |
| Chelmsley Wood West | 884 | 148 | 13th |
| Cotteridge | 615 | 90 | 80th |
| Digbeth | 1,947 | 262 | Second |
| Druids Heath | 893 | 142 | 15th |
| Edgbaston North | 1,215 | 108 | 49th |
| Edgbaston South & University | 912 | 75 | 106th |
| Erdington Town | 1,351 | 163 | Eighth |
| Five Ways North | 1,226 | 145 | 14th |
| Five Ways South & Calthorpe Park | 647 | 89 | 84th |
| Fordbridge | 710 | 113 | 39th |
| Fox Hollies | 913 | 90 | 79th |
| Frankley | 1,226 | 138 | 18th |
| Glebe Farm | 1,009 | 102 | 56th |
| Gravelly Hill & South Erdington | 2,164 | 151 | 11th |
| Greet & Sparkhill South | 1,560 | 100 | 58th |
| Hall Green Central | 340 | 49 | 122nd |
| Hall Green East | 566 | 86 | 90th |
| Handsworth East | 1,036 | 112 | 42nd |
| Handsworth South | 1,643 | 141 | 17th |
| Handsworth West | 994 | 105 | 53rd |
| Handsworth Wood | 562 | 55 | 118th |
| Harborne East | 706 | 84 | 94th |
| Harborne West | 654 | 78 | 101st |
| Hawkesley | 1,258 | 168 | Fifth |
| Hay Mills & Tyseley | 937 | 120 | 34th |
| Hockley & Jewellery Quarter | 965 | 100 | 60th |
| Hodge Hill | 763 | 80 | 98th |
| Hollywood & Drakes Cross | 284 | 47 | 124th |
| Kent's Moat | 565 | 84 | 93rd |
| King's Norton | 447 | 64 | 111st |
| Kings Heath | 916 | 116 | 35th |
| Kings Heath Park & Stirchley East | 662 | 91 | 78th |
| Kingstanding South East | 1,280 | 123 | 29th |
| Kingstanding South West | 367 | 55 | 116th |
| Kitts Green | 1,124 | 136 | 21st |
| Ladywood -Summer Hill | 1,128 | 138 | 20th |
| Lifford & Walkers Heath | 633 | 105 | 55th |
| Little Bromwich | 602 | 67 | 109th |
| Longbridge North | 801 | 96 | 67th |
| Longbridge South | 732 | 100 | 63rd |
| Lozells East | 778 | 100 | 61st |
| Lozells West | 1,169 | 128 | 24th |
| Lyndon Green | 377 | 60 | 113rd |
| Metchley | 1,139 | 130 | 23rd |
| Middlemore | 1,382 | 127 | 26th |
| Minworth | 422 | 78 | 102nd |
| Moor Green & Cannon Hill | 540 | 78 | 103rd |
| Moseley | 346 | 51 | 119th |
| Moseley Village | 1,149 | 128 | 25th |
| Nechells | 834 | 122 | 31st |
| North Central & Dartmouth Circus | 2,991 | 204 | Third |
| Northfield Victoria Common | 662 | 87 | 87th |
| Old Oscott | 534 | 88 | 85th |
| Perry Barr & South Hamstead | 739 | 89 | 83rd |
| Perry Beeches East | 326 | 50 | 120th |
| Perry Beeches West | 366 | 49 | 123rd |
| Perry Common - College Road | 998 | 105 | 54th |
| Pype Hayes Park | 765 | 86 | 89th |
| Queslett | 637 | 99 | 64th |
| Quinton East | 952 | 112 | 40th |
| Quinton Ridgacre | 1,035 | 113 | 38th |
| Rotton Park | 902 | 87 | 88th |
| Rubery East | 594 | 88 | 86th |
| Saltley East | 1,090 | 93 | 74th |
| Saltley West | 869 | 96 | 68th |
| Selly Oak | 1,223 | 69 | 108th |
| Selly Oak Park & Lodge Hill | 573 | 83 | 95th |
| Shard End & Kingfisher | 699 | 95 | 73rd |
| Sheldon North | 1,089 | 121 | 33rd |
| Sheldon South | 1,144 | 114 | 36th |
| Shenley Lane | 616 | 77 | 104th |
| Short Heath | 734 | 90 | 81st |
| Small Heath Park | 758 | 79 | 99th |
| Smith's Wood North | 561 | 96 | 69th |
| Smith's Wood South | 709 | 107 | 52nd |
| Sparkbrook North | 1,389 | 167 | Sixth |
| Sparkbrook South | 749 | 100 | 59th |
| Sparkhill North | 579 | 65 | 110th |
| Springfield & Hall Green West | 887 | 81 | 97th |
| Stechford | 1,122 | 130 | 22nd |
| Stirchley North & Selly Park | 875 | 111 | 44th |
| Stockland Green - Marsh Hill | 887 | 123 | 30th |
| Summerfield | 1,675 | 157 | Ninth |
| Turves Green | 1,145 | 124 | 28th |
| Upper Witton | 656 | 92 | 77th |
| Wake Green East & Moseley Bog | 503 | 62 | 112nd |
| Ward End & Bromford West | 1,072 | 84 | 92nd |
| Warley South | 304 | 49 | 121st |
| Warley West | 445 | 55 | 117th |
| Washwood Heath | 933 | 92 | 76th |
| Weoley Castle | 857 | 108 | 50th |
| West Heath | 535 | 70 | 107th |
| Winson Green & Gib Heath | 1,770 | 148 | 12th |
| Woodgate | 748 | 109 | 46th |
| Wythall & Gay Hill | 273 | 44 | 125th |
| Yardley | 759 | 89 | 82nd |
| Yardley Fields | 1,336 | 122 | 32nd |
| Yardley South | 680 | 112 | 41st |
| Yardley Wood East | 334 | 43 | 126th |
| Yardley Wood West | 594 | 97 | 66th |
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 Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Perry Beeches West (52) | Central (732) |
| Bicycle Theft | Belchers Lane & Eastfield Road (1) | Edgbaston South & University (142) |
| Burglary | Kent's Moat (20) | Hawkesley (249) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Hall Green Central (17) | Central (212) |
| Drugs | Brandwood North (3) | Central (185) |
| Other Crime | Yardley Wood East (2) | Summerfield (50) |
| Other Theft | Warley South (4) | Central (406) |
| Possession of Weapons | Handsworth Wood (1) | Central (84) |
| Public Order | Hollywood & Drakes Cross (10) | Central (430) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Hollywood & Drakes Cross (1) | Central (202) |
| Shoplifting | Handsworth Wood (1) | Central (559) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Kingstanding South East (1) | Central (249) |
| Vehicle Crime | Sparkhill North (33) | Digbeth (187) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Wythall & 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.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: 01 Apr 2021