Coventry – a city nestled into the heart of the West Midlands, rich in mediaeval history and a diverse culture. Situated just next to the River Sherbourne, the city was founded during the Middle Ages, and has grown exponentially since to become the second largest city, after Birmingham, in the West Midlands region.
Well-known for its Cathedral, which suffered irreparable damage during the WWII bombings, the city sees hundreds of visitors flock to its streets each year to marvel at its historical landmarks – but just how safe is Coventry for locals and tourists? Here, we’ll explore all the ins and outs of safety and security in the historic city of Coventry.
Crime Stats in Coventry
As the second biggest city in the West Midlands, Coventry has quite a diverse crime landscape, heavily influenced by its population density, economic conditions, and local policing strategies. Although Coventry actually ranks as the safest city in the entirety of the West Midlands, according to data from CrimeRate, the city still sees its fair share of criminal activity.
Crime Rate
In 2023, Coventry’s overall crime rate was 126 crimes per 1,000 people. Keeping in mind that the city has a population of around 450,000, this figure is slightly higher than that of the West Midlands’, which sits at 118 crimes per 1,000 people.
As of this year, Coventry has an overall crime rate that is 24% higher than that of the West Midlands as a whole. When it comes to the crime rate of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland combined, Coventry’s crime rate still sits at 44% higher.
|
Coventry |
West Midlands |
|
| Crime |
Count |
Count |
Rate Difference |
| Anti-social behaviour |
3,550 |
24,306 |
33% more dangerous |
| Bicycle theft |
424 |
2,334 |
65% more dangerous |
| Burglary |
2,317 |
20,291 |
4.2% more dangerous |
| Criminal damage and arson |
3,136 |
27,706 |
3.3% more dangerous |
| Drugs |
1,051 |
7,846 |
22% more dangerous |
| Other crime |
739 |
6,195 |
9% more dangerous |
| Other theft |
2,983 |
25,049 |
9% more dangerous |
| Possession of weapons |
673 |
6,818 |
10% safer |
| Public order |
2,293 |
25,755 |
19% safer |
| Robbery |
794 |
8,849 |
18% safer |
| Shoplifting |
3,109 |
23,907 |
19% more dangerous |
| Theft from the person |
412 |
3,996 |
6% safer |
| Vehicle crime |
4,721 |
35,417 |
22% more dangerous |
| Violence and sexual offences |
15,599 |
149,353 |
4.7% safer |
Common Crimes in Coventry
In terms of criminal activity, Coventry ranks poorly for violence and sexual offences. Crimes of this kind are the most common criminal occurences within the city, with 16,323 offences recorded during 2023 alone, giving a crime rate of 51. The good news is that this figure is actually 10% lower than 2022’s figure of 18,163 offences.
The least common crime to occur in the city is bicycle theft, with just 489 offences of this kind recorded during 2023. This was also a decrease from the previous year, going down by 24% from 2022’s figure of 643 crimes.
| Type of Crime |
Crime Rate Per 1000 People |
| Bicycle theft |
1.32 |
| Theft from the person (inc. pickpocketing) |
1.46 |
| Other crime |
1.91 |
| Possession of weapons |
2.01 |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) |
2.61 |
| Drugs |
3.1 |
| Burglary |
7.04 |
| Shoplifting |
7.27 |
| Public order |
7.67 |
| Other theft |
8.56 |
| Criminal damage and arson |
9.14 |
| Vehicle crime |
13.72 |
| Violent and sexual offences |
44.29 |
Using this table pulled from data sourced by the West Midlands Police, we can see that violent and sexual offences actually take the lead quite drastically in terms of the most common crimes to occur within Coventry. Shoplifting, public order, theft, criminal damage, and vehicle crime are amongst the other kinds of crime to watch out for.
Areas With Higher Crime Rates
Being a bigger city, Coventry has certain areas that experience higher rates of crime than others. It’s important to stay aware of which areas see the most criminal activity in order to avoid putting yourself in a situation where you’re more at risk of attack.
| Neighbourhood |
Crime Count |
Crime Rate |
| St Michael’s |
7,662 |
163 |
| Foleshill |
3,551 |
153 |
| Henley |
2,971 |
103 |
| Longford |
2,375 |
145 |
| Radford |
2,199 |
150 |
| Binley & Willenhall |
2,180 |
122 |
| Lower Stoke |
1,991 |
141 |
| Upper Stoke |
1,988 |
149 |
| Westwood |
1,798 |
84 |
| Sherbourne |
1,746 |
128 |
In terms of neighbourhoods, St Michael’s has the highest crime rate out of Coventry’s local wards, with 163 crimes reported per 1000 people. This region is where the city centre lies, so naturally there is more opportunity for criminal activity to occur amongst the higher volume of businesses and people who inhabit the area.
Coventry & Other Cities
When compared to other major cities in the UK, Coventry ranks somewhere around the middle mark in terms of its safety.
| City |
Crime Rate |
Rate Difference |
| City of London |
29,23 |
77% safer |
| Belfast City |
48.95 |
61% safer |
| Tower Hamlets |
98.67 |
22% safer |
| Sheffield |
105.93 |
16% safer |
| Camden |
109.35 |
13% safer |
| Bristol |
118.53 |
6% safer |
| Coventry |
125.92 |
- |
| Westminster |
133.72 |
6% more dangerous |
| Liverpool |
135.34 |
7% more dangerous |
| Birmingham |
136.74 |
9% more dangerous |
| Leeds |
150.56 |
20% more dangerous |
Is Coventry Safe?
You might be thinking to yourself – is Coventry a dangerous or rough place to live? Should I consider starting my business there, relocating my family, or investing in property in the historical West Midlands city?
Ultimately, as with other popular cities in the UK, Coventry sees its fair share of crime – but this isn’t a reason to stay away from the city. Coventry is an area that strives to protect its people, with increased policing, community engagement, and targeted initiatives dedicated to improving residents’ safety.
While there are some areas that show higher crime rates, other neighbourhoods such as Westwood and Sherbourne show far lower levels of criminal activity, making for the prime spots to target if you’re looking to relocate or set up shop somewhere in the city.
How We Can Help
Looking to make your mark in the city of Coventry? Searching for a security solution to keep your team, business, or family safe from potential harm? Our team of local security professionals is here to help. We offer fully bespoke security services within Coventry and the surrounding areas, providing an exceptional level of support designed to give you the peace of mind you’re looking for that your staff, property, or customers are never in danger.
We offer an extensive list of security services, whether you need event security, alarm response services, mobile patrols, or door supervisors. Reach out today to find out more about how we can help you.
