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 2021 was 137 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to the West Midlands's overall crime rate, coming in 14% higher than the West Midlands rate of 118 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Birmingham is the second most dangerous major city, and the 238th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2021, Birmingham had the worst crime rate in the West Midlands for bicycle theft, with 52 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.04 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2021 was also a bad month for Birmingham residents, when it was the West Midlands's most dangerous area for burglary, recording 893 crimes at a rate of 0.77 per 1,000 residents. Birmingham recorded 1,093 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2021, making its crime rate of 0.94 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 78,062 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 67. This is 28% higher than 2020's figure of 56,402 offences and a difference of 18.67 from 2020's crime rate of 49. Birmingham's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 1,057 offences recorded in 2021, an increase of 0.95% from 2020's figure of 1047 crimes.
Most Dangerous
Major Cities, The West Midlands
35% higher, regional crime rate
West Midlands
44% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Birmingham is 35% higher than the West Midlands and 44% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Birmingham | |
| West Midlands | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Birmingham represent the time frame between July 2019 and June 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 04 Aug, 2022
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 04 Aug, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 137 | 159,153 |
| 2020 | 106 | 123,271 |
| 2019 | 104 | 120,832 |
| 2018 | 99 | 114,605 |
| 2017 | 89 | 103,319 |
| 2016 | 78 | 90,930 |
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| Birmingham | West Midlands | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 16,272 | 14.02 | 35,993 | 12.29 | 12% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 1,057 | 0.91 | 2,439 | 0.83 | 9% more dangerous |
| Burglary | 9,101 | 7.84 | 18,775 | 6.41 | 18% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 12,549 | 10.82 | 28,353 | 9.68 | 11% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 3,524 | 3.04 | 7,355 | 2.51 | 17% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 2,866 | 2.47 | 6,671 | 2.28 | 8% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 9,711 | 8.37 | 20,301 | 6.93 | 17% more dangerous |
| Possession of Weapons | 2,819 | 2.43 | 5,486 | 1.87 | 23% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 16,427 | 14.16 | 35,215 | 12.02 | 15% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 4,113 | 3.54 | 7,409 | 2.53 | 29% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 4,855 | 4.18 | 12,987 | 4.43 | 6% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 1,798 | 1.55 | 3,202 | 1.09 | 30% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 12,271 | 10.58 | 29,930 | 10.22 | 3.4% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 78,062 | 67.28 | 166,641 | 56.90 | 15% more dangerous |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Stornoway Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Wilton Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Draycott Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Lea Hill Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Burglary | On or near Thurlestone Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Petrol Station | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Coppice Drive | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Salisbury Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Springmeadow Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Sycamore Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Albert Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Regent Park Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Wetherby Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Dornton Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Brindley Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Other theft | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Robbery | On or near M6 | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Public order | On or near Lancaster Circus Queensway | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| May 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 17 | 14 | 22 | 14 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.3 | 0.99 | 0.90 | 0.91 | Safer |
| Burglary | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | Getting worse |
| Drugs | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 3.0 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.5 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | Getting worse |
| Public Order | 6 | 7 | 10 | 14 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 3.9 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 6 | 3.7 | 4.2 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.6 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 31 | 39 | 49 | 67 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Birmingham that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2021.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldridge Road Recreation Ground | 2 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.16 |
| Allens Cross Community Association Playing Fields | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 5 |
| Billesley Common | 8 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.41 |
| Bleak Hill Recreation Ground | 9 | - | - | - | 13 | 9 | 79 |
| Brookvale Park | 7 | - | 4 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1.2 |
| Cannon Hill Park | 48 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 1.6 |
| Chapelhouse Park | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 7 | 3.8 |
| Cotteridge Park | 10 | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2.4 |
| Dawberry Fields Neighbourhood Park | 3 | - | - | - | 5 | 8 | 2.9 |
| Handsworth Park | 3 | - | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0.76 |
| Hay Barn Recreation Ground | - | 1 | - | - | 3 | 3 | 1.8 |
| Henry Barber Recreation Ground | 6 | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Highbury Park | 5 | - | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0.60 |
| Hodge Hill Common | 1 | - | 5 | - | 9 | 6 | 2.6 |
| Kents Moat Recreation Ground | 1 | - | - | - | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| King's Heath Park | 11 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1.1 |
| King's Norton Park | 21 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Kingstanding Recreation Ground | 21 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 39 | 22 | 11 |
| Moseley Park | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 1.3 |
| Oaklands Recreation Ground | 16 | - | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1.7 |
| Perry Hall Playing Fields | 7 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.21 |
| Rowheath Playing Fields | 3 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.29 |
| Rowheath Playing Fields | 7 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 2.0 |
| Salford Park | 18 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 11 | 3.3 |
| Sandwell Recreation Ground | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.26 |
| Shenley Fields Road Recreation Ground | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Small Heath Park | 18 | - | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2.0 |
| St Paul's Church | 9 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| Stechford Hall Park | 2 | - | - | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1.5 |
| Swanshurst Park | 9 | - | - | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1.3 |
| The Leys | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0.44 |
| Victoria Common | 6 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1.5 |
| Woodlands Park | 1 | - | 1 | - | 9 | 4 | 2.2 |
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 | 1,798 | 147 | 36th |
| Acocks Green West | 1,161 | 120 | 72nd |
| Allens Cross | 1,287 | 170 | 23rd |
| Aston Park | 1,101 | 136 | 46th |
| Attwood Green & Park Central | 1,772 | 180 | 18th |
| Balsall Heath East | 993 | 121 | 71st |
| Balsall Heath West & Kingswood Road | 1,040 | 144 | 38th |
| Belchers Lane & Eastfield Road | 1,205 | 116 | 77th |
| Billesley Common | 912 | 112 | 84th |
| Birches Green | 1,180 | 152 | 31st |
| Birchfield East | 2,195 | 205 | Seventh |
| Birchfield West | 1,399 | 128 | 59th |
| Bordesley | 2,775 | 177 | 20th |
| Bordesley Green North | 1,150 | 114 | 80th |
| Bournville East & Stirchley West | 811 | 102 | 99th |
| Bournville West | 742 | 120 | 73rd |
| Brandhall | 778 | 93 | 107th |
| Brandwood East | 558 | 88 | 111st |
| Brandwood End | 647 | 79 | 114th |
| Brandwood North | 510 | 78 | 115th |
| Bromford | 821 | 146 | 37th |
| Brookvale | 1,900 | 195 | 14th |
| Buckland End | 1,059 | 129 | 58th |
| California | 902 | 112 | 83rd |
| Castle Vale | 1,995 | 205 | Eighth |
| Central | 5,383 | 642 | First |
| Chelmsley Wood West | 1,182 | 198 | 11th |
| Cotteridge | 800 | 117 | 75th |
| Digbeth | 3,204 | 431 | Second |
| Druids Heath | 1,116 | 178 | 19th |
| Edgbaston North | 1,598 | 142 | 42nd |
| Edgbaston South & University | 1,172 | 97 | 101st |
| Erdington Town | 1,763 | 213 | Sixth |
| Five Ways North | 1,905 | 226 | Fourth |
| Five Ways South & Calthorpe Park | 702 | 96 | 104th |
| Fordbridge | 847 | 134 | 49th |
| Fox Hollies | 1,317 | 130 | 54th |
| Frankley | 1,443 | 163 | 27th |
| Glebe Farm | 1,485 | 151 | 32nd |
| Gravelly Hill & South Erdington | 2,878 | 201 | Ninth |
| Greet & Sparkhill South | 2,074 | 133 | 50th |
| Hall Green Central | 482 | 69 | 121st |
| Hall Green East | 699 | 106 | 92nd |
| Handsworth East | 1,296 | 140 | 45th |
| Handsworth South | 2,332 | 200 | Tenth |
| Handsworth West | 1,249 | 133 | 51st |
| Handsworth Wood | 726 | 71 | 118th |
| Harborne East | 884 | 105 | 95th |
| Harborne West | 799 | 96 | 105th |
| Hawkesley | 1,414 | 188 | 16th |
| Hay Mills & Tyseley | 1,229 | 158 | 29th |
| Hockley & Jewellery Quarter | 1,149 | 119 | 74th |
| Hodge Hill | 899 | 94 | 106th |
| Hollywood & Drakes Cross | 331 | 55 | 124th |
| Kent's Moat | 651 | 97 | 102nd |
| King's Norton | 622 | 89 | 109th |
| Kings Heath | 1,216 | 154 | 30th |
| Kings Heath Park & Stirchley East | 773 | 106 | 89th |
| Kingstanding South East | 1,541 | 148 | 35th |
| Kingstanding South West | 474 | 71 | 117th |
| Kitts Green | 1,444 | 174 | 21st |
| Ladywood -Summer Hill | 1,616 | 197 | 12th |
| Lifford & Walkers Heath | 784 | 130 | 56th |
| Little Bromwich | 942 | 105 | 94th |
| Longbridge North | 1,175 | 141 | 43rd |
| Longbridge South | 830 | 113 | 82nd |
| Lozells East | 1,096 | 141 | 44th |
| Lozells West | 1,495 | 164 | 26th |
| Lyndon Green | 367 | 58 | 123rd |
| Metchley | 1,256 | 143 | 40th |
| Middlemore | 2,120 | 195 | 13th |
| Minworth | 565 | 105 | 96th |
| Moor Green & Cannon Hill | 606 | 88 | 110th |
| Moseley | 434 | 64 | 122nd |
| Moseley Village | 1,351 | 150 | 33rd |
| Nechells | 1,109 | 162 | 28th |
| North Central & Dartmouth Circus | 3,938 | 269 | Third |
| Northfield Victoria Common | 940 | 124 | 67th |
| Old Oscott | 642 | 106 | 90th |
| Perry Barr & South Hamstead | 1,050 | 127 | 62nd |
| Perry Beeches East | 473 | 73 | 116th |
| Perry Beeches West | 528 | 70 | 120th |
| Perry Common - College Road | 1,284 | 135 | 47th |
| Pype Hayes Park | 969 | 109 | 87th |
| Queslett | 679 | 105 | 93rd |
| Quinton East | 1,055 | 124 | 66th |
| Quinton Ridgacre | 1,047 | 114 | 79th |
| Rotton Park | 1,197 | 115 | 78th |
| Rubery East | 793 | 117 | 76th |
| Saltley East | 1,437 | 122 | 69th |
| Saltley West | 1,220 | 135 | 48th |
| Selly Oak | 1,855 | 104 | 97th |
| Selly Oak Park & Lodge Hill | 702 | 102 | 98th |
| Shard End & Kingfisher | 929 | 126 | 64th |
| Sheldon North | 1,293 | 144 | 39th |
| Sheldon South | 1,239 | 124 | 68th |
| Shenley Lane | 766 | 96 | 103rd |
| Short Heath | 892 | 109 | 86th |
| Small Heath Park | 1,032 | 108 | 88th |
| Smith's Wood North | 747 | 127 | 61st |
| Smith's Wood South | 826 | 125 | 65th |
| Sparkbrook North | 1,819 | 219 | Fifth |
| Sparkbrook South | 989 | 132 | 53rd |
| Sparkhill North | 777 | 87 | 112nd |
| Springfield & Hall Green West | 1,165 | 106 | 91st |
| Stechford | 1,499 | 173 | 22nd |
| Stirchley North & Selly Park | 1,046 | 132 | 52nd |
| Stockland Green - Marsh Hill | 1,189 | 165 | 25th |
| Summerfield | 2,014 | 189 | 15th |
| Turves Green | 1,571 | 170 | 24th |
| Upper Witton | 929 | 130 | 55th |
| Wake Green East & Moseley Bog | 697 | 85 | 113rd |
| Ward End & Bromford West | 1,413 | 111 | 85th |
| Warley South | 438 | 71 | 119th |
| Warley West | 743 | 92 | 108th |
| Washwood Heath | 1,298 | 128 | 60th |
| Weoley Castle | 966 | 122 | 70th |
| West Heath | 761 | 99 | 100th |
| Winson Green & Gib Heath | 2,220 | 186 | 17th |
| Woodgate | 866 | 126 | 63rd |
| Wythall & Gay Hill | 295 | 47 | 126th |
| Yardley | 964 | 113 | 81st |
| Yardley Fields | 1,572 | 143 | 41st |
| Yardley South | 911 | 150 | 34th |
| Yardley Wood East | 419 | 54 | 125th |
| Yardley Wood West | 794 | 129 | 57th |
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 (35) | Central (588) |
| Bicycle Theft | Saltley East (1) | Central (110) |
| Burglary | Sparkhill North (19) | Hawkesley (144) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Perry Beeches East (22) | Central (325) |
| Drugs | Hollywood & Drakes Cross (2) | Central (235) |
| Other Crime | Wythall & Gay Hill (3) | Summerfield (86) |
| Other Theft | Yardley Wood East (16) | Central (451) |
| Possession of Weapons | Wythall & Gay Hill (1) | Central (157) |
| Public Order | Hollywood & Drakes Cross (17) | Central (737) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Yardley Wood East (2) | Central (224) |
| Shoplifting | Birchfield West (1) | Central (553) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Glebe Farm (1) | Central (291) |
| Vehicle Crime | Sparkhill North (30) | Central (238) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Wythall & Gay Hill (102) | Central (1,912) |
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 138% 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. Burglary saw a fall in every month of Birmingham's lockdown.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -4% | +129% | +138% | +49% | +0% | +48% | +55% | +82% | +131% | +74% |
| Bicycle Theft | -57% | -39% | -31% | - | -11% | -28% | -14% | +51% | +27% | +21% |
| Burglary | -23% | -34% | -36% | -25% | -27% | -5% | -5% | +2% | -12% | -23% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -19% | -32% | -16% | -5% | +2% | +6% | -2% | -2% | +11% | +9% |
| Drugs | -33% | -2% | +5% | -16% | -23% | -3% | -17% | -4% | +35% | +18% |
| Other Crime | +2% | -20% | -3% | +15% | +17% | -3% | +66% | +54% | +39% | +72% |
| Other Theft | -16% | -41% | -43% | -41% | -22% | -26% | -13% | -22% | -16% | -15% |
| Possession of Weapons | -37% | -22% | -20% | -18% | -3% | +8% | +6% | +23% | +36% | +65% |
| Public Order | +5% | +2% | +34% | +38% | +29% | +42% | +50% | +29% | +41% | +53% |
| Robbery | -33% | -59% | -45% | -24% | -16% | 0% | -23% | -26% | -3% | -23% |
| Shoplifting | -35% | -56% | -54% | -51% | -46% | -37% | -25% | -33% | -21% | -12% |
| Theft From the Person | -22% | -67% | -72% | -72% | -41% | -45% | -26% | -29% | -41% | -46% |
| Vehicle Crime | -27% | -42% | -39% | -33% | -26% | -12% | +1% | +1% | -5% | -9% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | +0% | +0% | +12% | +24% | +21% | +31% | +38% | +31% | +42% | +47% |
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