New police data has laid bare the Birmingham neighbourhoods suffering the highest levels of serious crime, following a recent spate of shocking violence across the city.
Top Two Policing Areas for Serious Offences
The analysis, based on figures from West Midlands Police, identifies the areas with the most recorded violent and sexual offences in the 12 months leading up to August. Lozells and East Handsworth topped the list with 2,288 such crimes, closely followed by Aston with 2,264 offences.
These two policing zones were the only ones where the number of serious incidents exceeded 2,000 during the period. The data encompasses a wide range of crimes, from domestic violence and rape to robbery and murder.
City-Wide Impact and Police Reassurance
The publication of this data comes amid intense public scrutiny of community safety, intensified by several high-profile attacks. These include the fatal stabbing of Katie Fox near the Bullring and the killing of 19-year-old Yassin Alma in Handsworth.
In response to concerns, particularly about a cluster of four city-centre stabbings in just over a month, police have sought to reassure the public. Detective Chief Inspector John Askew stated that such serious incidents "could have happened in any" major city centre, emphasising ongoing safety efforts.
Focus on Youth Engagement and Other High-Crime Areas
Officers have specifically highlighted the challenge of youth crime and knife carrying. Detective Constable Inspector Mandy Thompson noted that police are working directly with schools and universities to challenge the perception among some young people that it is "acceptable to carry a knife."
Beyond the top two, several other areas recorded alarmingly high numbers of serious offences. The full list of high-crime postcodes is as follows:
- Lozells and East Handsworth - 2,288
- Aston - 2,264
- Acocks Green - 1,949
- Stockland Green - 1,932
- South Yardley - 1,924
- Sparkbrook - 1,811
- Shard End - 1,777
- Bordesley Green - 1,761
- Washwood Heath - 1,732
- Small Heath and Highgate - 1,585
- Smiths Wood - 1,564
- Hodge Hill - 1,539
- Kingstanding - 1,508
- Ladywood - 1,507
- Springfield - 1,506
- Longbridge - 1,502
- Stechford and Yardley North - 1,464
- Tyburn - 1,411
- Perry Barr - 1,363
- Edgbaston - 1,349
- Bartley Green - 1,335
- Winson Green - 1,321
- Handsworth Wood - 1,320
- Northfield - 1,304
- Kings Norton - 1,284
The data provides a stark statistical picture of where residents in Birmingham are most likely to encounter serious crime, placing renewed pressure on authorities to deliver effective solutions.
