As Birmingham continues to grow as a vibrant and diverse city, public safety remains a top priority for residents, businesses and tourists alike. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or part of the community, understanding the Birmingham crime rate can help you make informed decisions about your safety.
In this article, we provide a thorough look into Birmingham’s crime landscape, trends, and practical steps you can take to enhance security.
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Current Crime Trends in Birmingham
Birmingham, like many cities in the UK, has seen dips and rises in crime rates over the years. According to recent statistics from CrimeRate, crime rates in Birmingham were 136 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023. This crime rate is what earns Birmingham the title of the most dangerous major city in the West Midlands.
The Birmingham crime rate reflects the challenges of a growing urban area, with statistics revealing notable levels of crime in densely populated neighbourhoods. Areas like South Yardley, Handsworth and Stockland Green report higher incidents of crime, while neighbourhoods such as Edgbaston and Hall Green South see comparably lower rates.
The crime rate stands 35% above the regional average, and an alarming 57% higher than the national average, raising concerns about safety for residents and businesses alike. In light of these statistics, it’s essential to understand effective crime prevention strategies that you can use to safeguard your home or business, contributing to a safer community.
Birmingham Crime Hotspots
Certain areas of Birmingham experience higher crime rates than others, with city centres and densely populated neighbourhoods often struggling the most against higher levels of criminal activity.
High-Risk Areas
Some Birmingham neighbourhoods report consistently high crime rates, especially those with significant nightlife and retail districts. South Yardley and Handsworth are two wards within Birmingham with a high crime rate, currently. These wards are what tend to raise the Birmingham crime rate average, making it appear much higher than it might be across other wards.
South Yardley is a largely residential area within Birmingham. Over the past year, it has built up a crime rate of 219 reported crimes per 1,000 daytime population. The most common crimes that occur are related to violence and sexual offences, theft, and vehicle crime.
Handsworth, an area known for its rather impressive musical legacy, also struggles with the second highest crime rate of the wards in Birmingham. Currently, the crime rate in Handsworth is 202 crimes per 1,000 population. Much like South Yardley, Handsworth primarily suffers from a high volume of violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime, and burglaries.
Lower-Risk Areas
At the other end of the spectrum, wards like Edgbaston and Hall Green South generally tend to report much lower rates of crime. This is likely a result of a lower population density, and an overall reputation of the locations’ residential characters. These wards help to lower the average of the Birmingham crime rate.
Edgbaston is known for its strong cricket community and botanical gardens, benefitting from the mixture of residential and green spaces. Edgbaston’s crime rate remains impressively low, at just 68 reported crimes per 1,000 people. Similar to higher risk areas, the ward still struggles against violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime, and shoplifting.
Similarly, Hall Green South is recognised for its welcoming atmosphere, rich array of activities, and convenient location. Second only to Edgbaston, Hall Green South’s crime rate sits at a relatively healthy 77 crimes per 1,000 people. Sticking to the trend, the most frequently committed crimes in the area are violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime, and shoplifting.
Most Common Crimes in Birmingham
There are many crimes that contribute to the Birmingham crime rate, which makes it all the more important to take a closer look at the most common types of criminal activity in the city. These trends help to identify which offences are harming the city the most, and help residents recognise which crimes to focus on preventing.
In 2023, there were a whopping 160,964 crimes reported that contributed to the high Birmingham crime rate. Below is a list of the what crimes were committed, and how many.
| Crime | Crime Count | Percentage of Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 66,462 | 41.3 |
| Vehicle Crime | 14,710 | 9.1 |
| Other Theft | 11,738 | 7.3 |
| Public Order | 11,499 | 7.1 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 11,397 | 7.1 |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 10,464 | 6.5 |
| Shoplifting | 8,850 | 5.5 |
| Burglary | 8,701 | 5.4 |
| Robbery | 4,782 | 3.0 |
| Drugs | 3,568 | 2.2 |
| Possession of Weapons | 3,197 | 2.0 |
| Other Crime | 2,319 | 1.4 |
| Theft from the Person | 2,275 | 1.4 |
| Bicycle Theft | 1,002 | 0.6 |
Is it Safe to Go to Birmingham City Centre?
According to the data from Police.uk, from Oct 2023 to Sep 2024, a total of over 15,000 crimes were committed in Birmingham’s city centre. It comes as no surprise that shoplifting was one of the most commonly committed crimes during this period. However, it pales in comparison to the number of violence and sexual offences committed, which made up for around a third of the total number of reported crimes.
Despite the high concentration of crime, this does not mean the city centre is unsafe, and that you should avoid it at all costs. A Q&A on Tripadvisor has many people chiming in with their own experiences of the Birmingham crime rate in the city centre, reporting it as generally quite safe and pleasant. Generally, it is advised to take the usual safety precautions and be extra cautious walking around pubs and clubs during closing times. This is due to a lot of incidents being caused by people who have had excessive amounts of alcohol.
Overall, the city centre is safe to go to, provided you take general safety precautions, stay aware, and travel with one or more friends if it is dark. It is also advisable to stick to lighter, busier areas to discourage and prevent incidents from happening. This is not much of a problem, as many of Birmingham city centre’s streets stay busy throughout the day and into the late evening, given the high volume of activities to do!
What Does the Birmingham Crime Rate Mean for Local Businesses?
For business owners in the city, the impact of crime can be significant. Commonly, the Birmingham crime rate might cause financial losses, or increased insurance premiums. Further examples of unique challenges they face include:
- Asset Theft: Retailers in particular are often targets for frequent cases of theft and vandalism, especially in shopping centres like the Bullring or Mailbox. Corporate offices may also fall victim to cyber threats or equipment theft.
- Financial Costs: The cost of crime extends beyond losses from theft. Business owners often see higher insurance rates, increased security expenses and potential reputational harm from the high crime rates in Birmingham.
- Loss of Customers: As crime rates continue to climb, people may start to grow uneasy about visiting areas with particularly high crime rates. This can cause businesses to see a decrease in consumers simply due to the reputation of the area their outlets and offices are based in.
How a Private Security Company Can Help
For business owners looking to protect their assets, employees, and customers against the Birmingham crime rate, hiring security guard services is one of the best solutions. Private security companies supply security guards which can protect your business by performing routine patrols, doing citizen’s arrests and monitoring your CCTV systems, among other duties. They also act as an effective visual deterrent, discouraging potential criminals from acting in the first place.
Region Security Guarding is a private security company that offers a range of tailored security services for business owners looking to secure their business. Our services include on-site security guards that are trained to deter theft, vandalism, and other incidents, as well as mobile patrols to monitor larger properties or multiple locations.
For businesses seeking a comprehensive approach, we provide free consultations and risk assessments, where our security experts evaluate the unique needs and vulnerabilities of your business. Based on the results of the assessment, we then offer recommendations on the most effective strategies and services that will help you minimise risks to your business.
For a safer business that helps to create a safe environment for your employees and clients, get in touch with our team of security professionals today!
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