Crime rates across West Midlands fall - despite 'harsh reality' of policing

Overall crime and anti-social behaviour in the West Midlands has fallen despite the “harsh reality” for policing in the region.

In his annual report, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said an increase in the number of police officers and police community support officers (PCSO) has helped deliver a reduction in offences in 2026 compared with 2024.

But he said decisions taken by centre government over the past 16 years continue to have a serious impact on policing across the area.

Figures showed there were 8,266 police officers in the force in March 2026 compared with 8,102 in 2024 along with a slight increase of four PCSOs to 314 in the same period.

Crime across the West Midlands has reduced from 328,153 offences in March 2024 to 300,418 this year while anti-social behaviour offences fell to 18,684 in March 2026 from 26,405 two years earlier.

Mr Foster said that 2025/26 had seen 150 brand new officers and 174 officers re-deployed from elsewhere into neighbourhood policing.

In the report he said: “These additional resources have been accompanied by reductions in crime and antisocial behaviour.

“Anti-social behaviour fell by 29.24%, with 18,684 incidents recorded during the year. In part, the reduction in these incidents is due to better recording of these calls for service by West Midlands Police as part of the anti-social behaviour plan.

“Therefore, the data moving forwards will be a more accurate reflection of the anti-social behaviour demand where the police are contacted to assist. Further to this, total recorded crime reduced by 8.45%, from 328,153 offences at baseline to 300,418 offences.

“Although demand remains highest in densely populated urban neighbourhoods, these sustained reductions demonstrate positive progress towards creating safer communities and improving confidence in policing.”

But he added: “The harsh reality is that the past 16 years has been a challenging time for policing, our essential preventative public services and our criminal justice system.

“That has been as a consequence of ill advised, misconceived and poor decision making on the part of central government. That decision making was a big mistake, it was counter-productive and a false economy. Our under-funded and overworked police service has all too often been left to pick up the pieces.

“The people of the West Midlands have been paying the price, because this has had, still does have and will continue to have, a serious adverse impact on police presence and visibility, response times, the conduct of investigations and the ability to prevent, tackle and reduce crime, all to the serious detriment of the people of the West Midlands.”

The annual report will be presented to the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel on Monday, September 28.