Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK after London. Located in the middle of England, it is rich in resources and developed in manufacturing. So people from all over the world are eager to come here. But is Birmingham safe? How do you live safely in Birmingham? The crime rate in the UK is so high that many people are worried about what life will be like if they move here. And Birmingham is ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the UK and has a consistently high crime rate. So what are the facts? The following part shows the details of Birmingham crime statistics and what to do when you live there.
An overview of crime in Birmingham
Birmingham is the second largest city in England and a multicultural city. However, in the past few years, there have been a number of violent crimes and property crimes in the area, which have brought great distress to local residents.
Birmingham is the most dangerous major city in the West Midlands. The overall crime rate in Birmingham in 2023 was 136 crimes per 1,000 people. The most common crimes in Birmingham were violent and sexual offences, with 63,464 offences in 2023, a crime rate of 61%. This is 10% lower than the 70,435 crimes recorded in 2022 and 6.65% lower than the 67% crime rate recorded in 2022. The least common crime in Birmingham was bicycle theft, with 938 crimes recorded in 2023, down 12% from 1,072 in 2022.
The table below shows the crime rates in Birmingham each month in 2023. By comparing Birmingham crime rate with other areas, we can find that Birmingham is not that safe.
| Time | Jan 2023 | Feb 2023 | Mar 2023 | Apr 2023 | May 2023 | Jun 2023 | Jul 2023 | Aug 2023 | Sep 2023 | Oct 2023 | Nov 2023 | Dec 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 10.36 | 9.74 | 10.52 | 10.36 | 11.46 | 10.90 | 11.57 | 10.53 | 10.64 | 11.20 | 10.58 | 10.76 |
| West Midlands | 7.75 | 7.28 | 7.85 | 8.06 | 8.43 | 8.03 | 8.49 | 7.98 | 7.90 | 8.49 | 7.79 | 7.65 |
| England, Wales & NI | 6.77 | 6.50 | 6.98 | 6.90 | 7.38 | 7.21 | 7.47 | 7.26 | 6.89 | 7.20 | 6.89 | 6.70 |
Is Birmingham crime rate getting worse?
Overall, crime risk in Birmingham is on the rise. Birmingham’s crime risk score is 163 more than it was a decade ago. But in recent years Birmingham’s crime risk scores have been brought back under control and are on a downward trend.
In the past year, Birmingham’s crime risk score has dropped by about 14 points. And over the past five years, Birmingham’s crime risk score has fallen by 3.05 points. This is due to the comprehensive governance of the Birmingham government and the active cooperation of the public. If only the data changes in the past year, it is not of reference value. However, the steady decline over five years shows that Birmingham has made great achievements in security. But for the last five years, we have also been affected by COVID-19. Therefore, when we analyze these data, we should also consider many factors comprehensively.
Types of Birmingham crime
In Birmingham, the most common crimes in Birmingham were violent and sexual offenses, while the least common crime in Birmingham was bicycle theft. In addition, a number of other crimes are also frequent in Birmingham. Specific crimes can include burglary, car theft, racial assault, drug-related problems, and so on. If you live here, please take care to protect your personal and property safety.
Robbery
According to West Midlands Police, there were 4,213 robberies in Birmingham in the 12-month period between September 2023 and September 2024. The crime rate in Birmingham was 4.02 robberies per 1,000 people, 6.70 times the national average.
There are frequent robberies in Birmingham, which pose a threat to the safety of local residents and visitors. Robberies in Birmingham tend to take place in crowded but poorly monitored areas, such as high streets, night markets and parks. These areas are easy targets for criminals because of the high mobility of people. Robbery criminals in Birmingham often use violence or threats to force victims to hand over their property. These means include knife threats, beatings, snatches, etc., which bring great physical and mental harm to the victims.
Vehicle Crime
Over the same period, West Midlands Police recorded 12,933 vehicle crime reports in Birmingham, with a crime rate of 12 per 1,000 people and a crime index of 3.34.
Vehicle crime cases include car theft, car goods theft, vehicle damage and other types. Vehicle crime not only brings economic losses to the owners, but also seriously affects the public security environment of the city. Criminals use a variety of means to carry out vehicle crimes, such as the use of technical means to crack the vehicle lock, break the window glass to steal items in the car. The majority of vehicle crimes in Birmingham are gang crimes. To this end, the police have increased patrols in key areas, especially at night and during peak traffic periods.
Possession of weapons
There were 3,018 crimes involving possession of weapons. The crime rate of 2.88 cases per 1,000 people is 3.27 times the national rate of similar cases.
In recent years, criminals who illegally possess weapons tend to be younger. Some teenagers illegally possess and use weapons out of curiosity, to show off, or to protect themselves. The Government and social organizations raise public awareness of the dangers of illegal possession of weapons through publicity and education. All in all, the problem of illegal possession of weapons in Birmingham is a complex social problem that needs the joint efforts of the government, the police and all sectors of society to solve.
Safest and most dangerous areas in Birmingham
Although Birmingham has a high crime rate, not all places are unlivable. Security in Birmingham also varies regionally. Generally speaking, the city center is safer. This is because they tend to have good public facilities and are actively patrolled by the police. The industrial south of Birmingham and some remote areas appear to be relatively dangerous. Because these places used to be old industrial bases, there are many idle or abandoned factories and warehouses, which provides a breeding ground for criminal activities. So if you’re thinking of moving to Birmingham, try to avoid these places.
Safest areas in Birmingham
- Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield
- Streetly North, Sutton
- Hill Hook, Sutton
- Streetly South
- Little Sutton, Sutton Coldfield
- Hollywood and Drakes Cross
- Lyndon Green
- Perry Beeches East
- Kingstanding South West
- Yardley Wood East
Most dangerous areas Birmingham
- Aston
- Handsworth
- Nechells
- Sparkhill
- Erdington
- Lozells
- Small Heath
- Bordesley Green
- Winson Green
- Ladywood
Is Birmingham safe? Compared with other cities
As a major city, the security in Birmingham has always been a concern. According to Numbeo, Birmingham is considered the third most dangerous city in UK, with a crime index of 63.5. Here are the top 10 most dangerous cities in the UK and their crime indexes.
- Bradford – Crime Index: 68.1
- Coventry – Crime Index: 64.9
- Birmingham – Crime Index: 63.5
- Manchester – Crime Index: 55.3
- London – Crime Index: 54.6
- Nottingham – Crime Index: 50.8
- Liverpool – Crime Index: 48.4
- Belfast – Crime Index: 46.3
- Glasgow – Crime Index: 45.1
- Leeds – Crime Index: 43.9
Compared with other cities in Europe, Birmingham is also “outstanding”, as one of the places with the highest crime indexes. In Europe, the most dangerous city is also in Britain, that is, Bradford. And there are 3 British cities in the top 10. Below lists the top 10 worst cities in Europe.
- Bradford, United Kingdom – Crime Index: 68.1
- Marseille, France – Crime Index: 65.9
- Coventry, United Kingdom – Crime Index: 64.9
- Birmingham, United Kingdom – Crime Index: 63.5
- Montpellier, France – Crime Index: 62.7
- Naples, Italy – Crime Index: 62.6
- Liege, Belgium – Crime Index: 60.7
- Grenoble, France – Crime Index: 59.8
- Paris, France – Crime Index: 57.7
- Catania, Italy – Crime Index: 57.2
Conclusion
Is Birmingham safe? It is a good question. Although the Birmingham crime rate is relatively high, it is safe to live in Birmingham if you choose the right neighbourhood. In recent years, the government has paid much more attention to the city’s security. We uhomes.com also devote ourselves to promising your safety in Birmingham. It is our first choice to recommend you the accommodation with complete security facilities and in a relatively safe areas. All our effort is to guarantee your security and make your life happier.
FAQ
Birmingham is certainly a good place to live in.
Although the crime rate here is relatively high, you can still enjoy a better life in Birmingham. Birmingham is the second largest city in Britain, so that you can get more job opportunities, and meet various people here. The diverse cultures and developed economy can provide you with a brand new life in Birmingham.
Birmingham has a high crime index of 63.5. Thus, you’d better choose a relatively safe area to live. Here is a list of best areas to live in Birmingham. These places is safe and convenient.
- Wylde Green
- Streetly North
- Hill Hook
- Streetly South
- Little Sutton
- Hollywood and Drakes Cross
- Lyndon Green
- Perry Beeches East
- Kingstanding South West
- Yardley Wood East
