Every single crime in the West Midlands as police say less reported
Figures provided by the force to BirminghamLive revealed crime across the West Midlands dropped over the last year (July 2024 to June 2025) compared with the previous 12 months (July 2023 to June 2024).
Chief Constable Craig Guildford credited "significant changes" to how communities are policed and confirmed that vehicle crime, burglary, robbery and knife crime have all seen 'significant' reductions.
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The numbers account for the crimes that are reported to the police.
Numbers provided directly to BirminghamLive by West Midlands Police spell out a six percent drop in reported crime across the region.
Chief constable Guildford credited this to the force introducing a "local operating model to bring a better spread of officers, detectives and specialist staff across the force delivering an improved service."
Force numbers reported that total crime dropped from 323,108 offences for July 2023 to June 2024 to 303,498 offences for July 2024 to June 2025.
This equals a 19,610 decrease in total crime.
A notable drop of 12 percent was recorded in knife crime - but as a BirminghamLive special investigation reported in June, the West Midlands still has some of the highest rates of knife possession and serious knife crimes in England and Wales. Read our special report into knife crime, here.
West Midlands Police spoke of how they have moved to having dedicated neighbourhood policing officers for each city ward - a hark back to time when there were bobbies on specific beats.
The force added that a return to this type of policing means officers can "work closely with local residents to address community priorities and concerns."
Breakdown of West Midlands Police crime figures below:
Crime
Jul-23/Jun-24
Jul-24/Jun25
Difference
% Change
Total crime
323,108
303,498
-19,610
-6.07%
Knife crime
12,301
10,811
-1,490
-12.11%
Robbery
8,125
6,661
-1,464
-18.02%
Burglary
19,154
15,318
-3,836
-20.03%
DA
54,458
52,504
-1,954
-3.59%
Vehicle crime
33,477
27,919
-5,558
-16.60%
Total arrests
53,082
57,976
4,894
9.22%
Total detections
9.03%
13.79%4.77%
One such example of this policing style is West Midlands Police's Operation Fearless - which has now moved to Birmingham city centre from Erdington.
We've followed the progress of Operation Fearless since its launch in Erdington in January, where officers were cracking down on very specific issues plaguing the area including open drug taking, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
The Fearless team is formed of 20 officers, including a bike-riding cop whose knife chase was viewed by more than 1 million people.
West Midlands Police said in July they are on track to reach 100 arrests for Operation Fearless in the city centre and southside area of Birmingham in the "very near future."
Chief Constable Craig Guildford said of these latest figures: 'The continued success to cut crime across the West Midlands is a fantastic message to be able to deliver. Vehicle crime, burglary, robbery and knife crime have all seen significant reductions.'I hope our communities feel confident and reassured that our officers and staff are working tirelessly to cut crime in their area.
'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.
'The continued drop in offences is clear, there are now considerably fewer victims of crime across the West Midlands compared to previous years and our work will continue."
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