A new map highlights homicide hotspots, with West Midlands second only to London in violent crimes.
The West Midlands had the second most homicides, only surpassed by London in March 2024. Homicide includes murder and manslaughter, as well as deaths of children or adults. Birmingham appears deep purple on the map, identifying it as a UK murder hotspot. The city recorded thirteen homicides during that time.
The data ends in March 2024, and recent events are therefore not reflected. Police work hard for safer streets, facing shootings and stabbings amongst young groups. Home Office data reveals some patterns: women are often killed by partners or exes, while men are often killed by someone they know, or a stranger.
There were 570 homicide victims by March 2024, which is 3% less than the previous year. It’s the lowest number since 2016, due to a 10% drop in female victims. Male victim numbers stayed about the same, and most homicide victims were male.
Almost three-quarters of victims were men, while women were about a quarter of victims. Last year, a third of women were killed by partners, most commonly where a suspect was known. The Metropolitan Police had the biggest caseload, recording 110 homicides.
West Midlands Police followed with 32 cases, West Yorkshire Police had 28 cases, and Greater Manchester Police registered 25 cases. Birmingham had the most homicide victims, followed by Leeds, Hackney, and Somerset.
Most charged suspects were male, which applies to both male and female victims. Victims were often young adults, with the most common age being 16 to 24. The next most common was 35 to 44, and many homicides involved teenage victims.
Most teenage homicides involved a knife. Half of male victims were killed by knives, and a third of female victims died from sharp objects as well.