Shop thefts and drug offences up, but big drops for other crimes across the West Midlands, latest crime figures show

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released today shows that the number of offences in the West Midlands fell by six per cent in the 12 months to June this year, the biggest volume difference seen in any police force in England and Wales.

The average for England and Wales over the same time-scale was a drop of one per cent.

The latest West Midlands figures drop follows a fall of 10 per cent in the same period from June 2023 to June 2024.

The figures show that in the 12 months up to June this year a total of 303,343 offences were recorded in West Midlands, excluding fraud offences, a drop of 19,828 offences from the June 2023 to June 2024 figures.

In the region, there were nearly 2,000 fewer victims of domestic abuse, nearly 1,500 fewer robberies and more than 2,700 fewer burglaries compared to last year.

In the West Midlands, violent offences fell by two per cent, with a drop of 11 per cent in violent offences that resulted in injury, while serious youth violence dropped by 13 per cent.

Gun crime was down by 15 per cent, while knifepoint robberies have also fallen by more than 20 per cent in the last year.

The force also had the lowest number of guns being discharged in the last six years, with just 45 recorded in the last six months, and recovered 137 guns and had 123 surrendered.

Sexual offences rose by five per cent, but against a national average of nine percent, while stalking and harassment offences decreased by nine per cent.

Burglary has seen a significant drop, falling by 22 per cent, and while shop theft offences had risen by 2.5 per cent, robbery dropped by 18 per cent, vehicle crime by 14 per cent and theft from person by 21 per cent.

The data also shows a fall of criminal damage by seven per cent and public order offences by 17 per cent and while drug offences rose by 16 per cent, West Midlands Police said this demonstrated that the force was recording more due to the number of arrests and Stop & Searches that have been carried out resulting in drugs found.

The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police said his officers are helping to reduce gun and knife crime, but said there is still work to do after a series of violent incidents on the region's streets.

A man was murdered in Phoenix Park in Wolverhampton on Wednesday, just yards from a shooting in August that has led to a man admitting attempted murder.

Detectives also investigated a possible discharge of a gun in the city on Tuesday, a man was shot and badly injured in a daytime attack near Wolverhampton's city centre Sainsbury's store on October 13 and two men were killed as they sat in a vehicle in Whitmore Reans on September 19. 

Chief Constable Craig Guildford said that he and the force were pleased with the results, but would keep working to keep the trends falling.

He said: “I hope local people are as pleased with these results as we are, to see even more reductions in crime and fewer victims of crime proves that our officers and staff are continuing to work tirelessly to cut crime.

“We have made significant reductions in key areas such as youth violence and knife crime and I hope this serves to reassurance our communities that we are committed to keeping our young people safe.

“The data reflects some very significant changes to the way we police on behalf of our communities on a daily basis and the results that these changes have brought. 

"We have been able to make substantial reductions in crime, to arrest more offenders and to ensure they are held to account for their crimes whilst we continue to protect the vulnerable.

“We will continue to do our utmost to keep these trends falling, any offence is one too many, but people in the West Midlands are statistically now less likely to be a victim of crime.”

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “The latest crime statistics released today, are testament to the commitment, dedication, hard work and professionalism of officers, staff and partners across the West Midlands. Nearly 20,000 fewer people being a victim of crime, means fewer lives disrupted, fewer families living in fear and stronger, safer communities.

“It is particularly welcome, to see reductions in burglary, robbery, serious youth violence, knife crime and gun crime — all offences that cause significant harm. The reduction in knife-point robberies and the lowest number of firearms discharges in six years, show that mine and the force’s focus on tackling violence is paying off.

“The improvements in call handling, increases in arrests and offenders being brought to justice, also illustrate the real impact of the new local policing model, which is putting more officers back into neighbourhoods, where they are most needed.

“However, I am not in the least complacent. One victim of crime, is one too many. I will continue to hold West Midlands Police to account, on behalf of the people of the West Midlands, to ensure that there is continuous improvement, in preventing and tackling crime and safeguarding victims. There is, of course, still much more to do — particularly in relation to sexual offences, drugs and shop theft — but the direction of travel is positive.

“These figures show that robust policing, disruption and enforcement, combined with investment in prevention, early intervention and diversion and partnership working, are making a positive difference.

“I want to thank everyone within West Midlands Police and partners across the West Midlands, for their continued, constant and unremitting action to prevent and tackle crime. Together, we are building a West Midlands in which there is justice, safety and security, for all our people and communities.”