Crime Rate In Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton is a city located in central England with a population of over 250,000, but is it a safe place to live?

In this article, we discuss whether Wolverhampton has a high crime rate, different types of crime within the area, and data from the crime map.

1. Does Wolverhampton Have a High Crime Rate?
2. Wolverhampton Knife Crime
3. Wolverhampton Gun Crime
4. Car Crime In Wolverhampton
5. Wolverhampton Crime Map

Does Wolverhampton Have A High Crime Rate?

Wolverhampton is a city situated within the West Midlands and is in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the UK. The overall crime rate for Wolverhampton last year was 119 crimes per 1,000 people, which is 36% higher than the national crime rate. Recent crimes within the area include violence, murder, and criminal damage.

Although rated one of the most dangerous, each city had it’s good and bad areas. For example, Perton Ridge and Goldthorn Park are nicer and more sought-after areas to live in Wolverhampton.

When looking at crime statistics, it is important to remember that there are usually factors that go together with crime. This can include poverty levels, police policies, job availability, and the age of the population.

Wolverhampton Knife Crime

Over the last 3 years, the West Midlands have had more than 10,000 victims to both knife and gun crimes. One of these includes a 15-year-old boy who was murdered outside of the Wolverhampton bus station.

From February to April this year, Wolverhampton police have been seizing weapons and recovering stolen items to crack down on youth violence. Inspector Sophie Clement spoke on behalf of Wolverhampton police with the following statement: “We want to deter young people from ruining their lives by getting involved in crime at a young age. It can lead to criminal convictions and even losing freedoms by being put into custody.”

Wolverhampton Gun Crime

The past 5 years have seen a surge in gun crime within the West Midlands region, with gun crimes reported as recently as last week.

These statistics were becoming a concern and so ‘weapon surrender bins’ have been implemented, with four situated in Wolverhampton at St Chad and St Mark’s Church in Lime Street, Morrison’s in Bilston, the Tabernacle Baptist Church on Dunstall Road, and the New Testament Church of God on Wednesfield Road.

In the space of just 6 months, West Midlands Police revealed that more than 2,000 weapons were placed in these bins across the region.

Car Crime in Wolverhampton

In Wolverhampton, vehicle crime makes up 8% of all crimes committed in the area and during 2021 there were 14,136 vehicle crimes reported with 98% of these cases remaining unsolved. The most common types of vehicle crime are:

• Vehicle Theft
• Theft From Vehicle
• Criminal Damage
• Arson
• Carjacking

In September 2021, five men were jailed for the theft of £400,000 worth of cars and property. The gang would target keyless Ford vehicles and would steal them by interfering with the security software. These stolen vehicles would then be fitted with cloned plates and be used to commit burglaries at commercial addresses within the area.

Wolverhampton Crime Map

Crime maps of the west midlands reveal that Wolverhampton has over a 170% higher crime rate in comparison to the national crime rate. The crime map for Wolverhampton in May 2022 reveals there were over 200 crimes reported in the city centre in just one month. Crime types include:

• Violence and Sexual Offences
• Shoplifting
• Public Order
• Anti-Social Behaviour
• Robbery
• Criminal Damage and Arson
• Vehicle Crime
• Burglary
• Possession of Weapons

This crime map has been populated with data submitted by local forces, so all crimes may not be present. Despite this, there is a clear indication that surrounding areas such as Albrighton, Bridgnorth, and Perton have a lower rate of crime.

The overall top reported crimes in Wolverhampton throughout May 2022 were violence and sexual offences with 103 reports, shoplifting with 62 reports, and public order with 43 reports.

Final Thoughts

Like all other cities, Wolverhampton has its fair share of crime rates. Despite this, most of the area is relatively safe and there are local suburban families which are great for families.

Were you surprised by these crime rates? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you’re interested in staying up to date with all the latest West Midlands news; head over to our blog where you can find articles about Birmingham’s crime rate and what Coventry’s crime is really like.