Whether you’re considering moving into the city, trying to find the right area to send your child to school in, or deciding where’s going to be the best place to open a business, looking at crime rates is a good indicator of how safe an area is. When it comes to Birmingham, which has a particularly high crime rate, there’s even more reason to do this before deciding on which area of the city may be best for you, and which ones you should perhaps avoid.
But which areas of Birmingham experience the highest crime rates?
What are the Most Dangerous Areas In Birmingham?
Like any city, Birmingham’s crime rates vary massively by area, with some areas such as Edgbaston (63) having a crime rate lower than that of the national average. Unfortunately, over 90% of the city's wards have a crime rate higher than the national crime rate of 85. Below are the five areas in Birmingham which experienced the highest crime rates in 2023.
5. Longbridge & West Heath
Located in the south of the city and home to 7,000 people, Longbridge & West Heath features at number five on the list of most dangerous areas in Birmingham. Longbridge has historically been associated with the car industry thanks to the Longbridge car plant, whereas West Heath is a suburban area of the city known for its affordable housing. With a crime rate of 179 crimes per 1,000 people (over double the national rate), the inhabitants and businesses of Longbridge and West Heath are most at risk of violent and sexual offences, vehicle crime, and criminal damage and arson.
4. Birchfield
With a population of 12,473 and a crime rate of 183, Birchfield comes in at number four on the list of most dangerous areas in Birmingham. Situated in the west of Birmingham, Birchfield is a suburb of the city, and mainly consists of housing alongside amenities such as grocery shops and schools. Despite this, the area has a particularly high crime rate, with the most common crimes being violent and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and burglary.
3. Handsworth
Third on the list of areas that experience the highest crime rate in Birmingham is Handsworth. Bordering the west of Birchfield, Handsworth is situated in the west of Birmingham, and is one of the most densely populated areas of the city. Handsworth’s crime rate sits at 194 crimes per 1,000 people, and experienced a total of 2,114 crimes last year. The most common crimes in Handsworth were violent and sexual offences, followed by burglary and vehicle crime.
2. Stockland Green
Despite coming in at number two on the highest crime rates in Birmingham, Stockland Green saw the highest number of crimes out of all the areas of Birmingham on this list. With 3,374 crimes committed over the space of a year, Stockland Green experienced a crime rate of 207. Situated in the north of the city of Birmingham, the area has a population of around 24,000, and features two large green spaces: Bleak Hill Recreation Ground and Brookvale Park. The most common types of crime that occur are violent and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and burglary.
1. South Yardley
Topping the list of most dangerous places in Birmingham is South Yardley. While it may not have experienced the highest total number of crimes, it had an extremely high crime rate of 223 crimes per 1,000 people, more than 1.5 times higher than the average Birmingham crime rate and over 2.6 times higher than the national crime rate.
With a population of 10,783, South Yardley previously covered a much larger area with a population of over 30,000, but following the 2017 City of Birmingham ward revisions, South Yardley was reduced to a much smaller area. Now, its main feature is the Swan Shopping Centre, and is otherwise a mostly residential area.
With a total crime count of 1,750, South Yardley’s most common crimes were violent and sexual offences, other theft, and vehicle crime.
How Do I Find Reliable Security in Birmingham?
If you’re working or living in one of these areas and have no intention of moving, then finding a professional security provider is a great way to combat the high crime rates in your area. But how do you know which security provider is going to deliver a great service?
First, make sure your security provider is SIA (Security Industry Authority) licensed, as this authorises them to provide professional private security services in the UK. Next, make sure your provider is experienced and has a great track record of delivering for their customers. You can ask your provider for references to ensure that they’re as reliable as they appear to be.
Ideally, you also want a security provider who provides a range of services, as this could save you from having to go to a second provider if your security needs change, and you require a new service.
Finally, it’s always better if your security provider has good knowledge of the local area. While this isn’t essential, it can help them to provide a more effective service.
Taybar’s Professional Security Services in Birmingham
At Taybar, we meet every criteria you could want from a security provider in Birmingham. With over 25 years of experience operating in Birmingham, the Midlands and South Yorkshire, we’ve helped protect thousands of businesses from all kinds of criminal activity. From mobile patrols that allow our SIA licensed security officers to deter crime and react quickly to any situation, to key holding and alarm response services that mean we can protect your business at all times, we offer a wide range of expert security services.
What’s more, we’ve even received the NSI Guarding Gold Medal in recognition of our industry leading services.
To find out how we can provide professional security services for your business in Birmingham, get in touch with us today.
