SandwellCouncil area
Crime in Sandwell
Recorded crime in Sandwell is 1.3 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.
353,860 residents in 190 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 2/10High crime
- Living
- 8.3/10Good
- 5-year change
- −15%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 15% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Sandwell, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.3× the England and Wales average. 94 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 59% of the harm here
- Burglary: 15% of the harm here
- Robbery: 11% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 11 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 | 2.3 |
| Burglary | 6.4 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 39.9 |
| Drugs | 2.3 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.5 |
| Other crime | 1.9 |
| Other theft | 6.7 |
| Theft from the person | 0.7 |
| Vehicle crime | 10.3 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 8.4 |
| Public order | 7.0 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.5 |
| Shoplifting | 6.4 |
Towns and cities in Sandwell
Postcode districts in Sandwell
Questions about crime in Sandwell
- Is Sandwell a safe place to live?
- Sandwell scores 2 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Sandwell?
- Down 15% over 5 years, from 41,360 recorded crimes a year to 35,094.
- What is the most common crime in Sandwell?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 40 per 1,000 residents a year.