Crime in Birmingham
Recorded crime in Birmingham is 1.6 times the Birmingham council average and 2.6 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 15%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
Within 3 km of the centre of Birmingham: about 153,575 residents in 110 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 1/10High crime
- Living
- 8.8/10Excellent
- 5-year change
- −15%fewer crimes
- vs the council
- 1.6×the Birmingham council average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 3 km of the centre of Birmingham.
Crime over 5 years
Down 15% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 3 km of Birmingham, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.6× the Birmingham council average (2.6× the England and Wales average). 181 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 52% of the harm here
- Robbery: 19% of the harm here
- Burglary: 11% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 22 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 7.6 |
| Burglary | 9.5 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 68.7 |
| Drugs | 6.2 |
| Possession of weapons | 3.6 |
| Other crime | 2.6 |
| Other theft | 16.7 |
| Theft from the person | 5.8 |
| Vehicle crime | 19.5 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12.7 |
| Public order | 13.9 |
| Bicycle theft | 2.1 |
| Shoplifting | 12.7 |
Postcode districts in Birmingham
Nearby towns
Council: Birmingham
Questions about crime in Birmingham
- Is Birmingham a safe place to live?
- Birmingham scores 1 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.6 times the Birmingham council average.
- Is crime going up or down in Birmingham?
- Down 15% over 5 years, from 34,924 recorded crimes a year to 29,647.
- What is the most common crime in Birmingham?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 69 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Birmingham compare with Birmingham council?
- Crime severity in Birmingham is 1.6 times the Birmingham council average.