The Midlands' most dangerous city has been named, with Birmingham topping the regional list for violent crime. Gloucester and Derby follow in second and third place, according to new data based on police-recorded offences.
How the rankings work
Places were ranked by their violent crime rate, which measures the number of offences relative to the population. This method highlights smaller towns that may face specific serious crime issues. The analysis focused on 'violence against the person' cases, including stabbings, robberies, assaults, threats of violence, stalking, and harassment.
Birmingham's national position
Despite leading the Midlands, Birmingham ranks 13th nationally. Stoke-on-Trent sits at 24th, while Black Country areas are lower than many might expect: Sandwell is 38th, Wolverhampton 56th, Walsall 83rd, and Dudley 126th.
National picture
Blackpool is the most violent place in England and Wales, followed by Bradford, Westminster, and Middlesbrough. Crimes logged last year included 503 homicides (including manslaughter and infanticide), over 507,000 violent attacks causing injury, 826,000 assaults, 2,100 deaths or serious injuries from illegal driving, and 622,000 stalking and harassment offences.
