Wolverhampton has the highest murder rate per head of population in England, according to the latest police statistics. The city recorded 31 murders over the last five years, which translates to 11.02 offences per 100,000 residents, a figure that surpasses nearby Birmingham despite the latter having more killings in total.
Birmingham saw 86 murders over the same period, but its population is around four times larger than Wolverhampton's, meaning its per-head rate is lower. The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, cover the five years to March 2026.
Recent high-profile killings in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton has been the scene of several shocking killings in recent years. In 2024, two 12-year-old boys became some of the youngest in the UK to be convicted of murder after killing Shawn Seesahai in a Wolverhampton park. The case drew national attention due to the age of the perpetrators.
Two years earlier, the murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was stabbed to death in a case of mistaken identity, also made national headlines. Both cases highlighted concerns about knife crime and youth violence in the area.
National murder figures fall to decade low
Nationally, the number of killings fell to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to the latest police statistics. There were 431 murders in the year ending March 2026, down 4% on the previous year and the lowest total since at least 2012.
The figures also reveal significant gender differences in homicide circumstances. Three-quarters of all homicide victims are male. However, the relationship between victims and suspects varies sharply by gender.
Gender patterns in homicide cases
In the year ending March 2025, the latest analysis available, two in five female victims of homicide were suspected to have been killed by their partner or ex-partner (40%). When a suspect was identified, intimate partners represented the vast majority of suspects for female victims.
By contrast, only 4% of male victims were suspected to have been killed by a partner or ex-partner. Men were most likely to have been killed by a friend or acquaintance (20%) or a stranger (18%). The most likely motivation for any homicide was a row, revenge, or a sudden loss of temper, according to the data.
