New map shows exactly where the most robberies and carjackings take place across the cityPolice operation Fearless around Erdington and the high street.(Image: Birmingham Live)

More people are mugged, carjacked or threatened to hand over mobile phones in parts of Birmingham city centre than almost anywhere else in the country, new data shows.

As with most crime types, robberies are more likely to take place in busy town and city centres than in residential neighbourhoods.

Last year, 287 robberies – the equivalent of one every 31 hours – were recorded in Birmingham ’s North Central and Dartmouth Circus neighbourhood.

READ MORE: Police probe as car cannibals strip vans at Erdington day centre

That was the fifth-highest number of robberies among more than 7,000 similarly-sized neighbourhood areas in England and Wales, and the second-highest outside London.

You can see how it compares near you using the interactive map below.

Another 262 robberies were recorded in Birmingham’s nearby Central neighbourhood, the seventh-highest in the country and third-highest outside London.

Crime rates – the number of crimes in each area for every 1,000 people living there – allow for a fairer comparison of the likelihood of being robbed in places with widely different population sizes. However, in some busy city centres, the results may be skewed by the number of visitors.

By that metric, Birmingham Central had the highest crime rate for robbery in our area – and the highest in the country outside London – with 40 robberies for every 1,000 residents.

That was followed by:

  • Digbeth, where 178 robberies were recorded – a rate of 25 per 1,000 residents
  • North Central & Dartmouth Circus, where 287 robberies were recorded – a rate of 17 crimes per 1,000 residents
  • Handsworth South, where 127 robberies were recorded – a rate of 11 per 1,000 residents
  • Sparkbrook North, where 74 robberies were recorded – a rate of eight per 1,000 residents

West Midlands Police Operation Fearless begins around Birmingham city centre.

Officers on Hurst St by the Arcadian and Hippodrome.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Total crime across the West Midlands has fallen by a further 18,000 offences (nearly 6 per cent) over the last year, with 1,500 fewer robberies.

“Knifepoint robberies have fallen by 24 per cent in the last year. In Birmingham city centre, we recently launched Operation Fearless in the Southside district.

“Part of their work involves tackling serious youth violence. The Fearless team work alongside the Birmingham city centre team, and other specialist officers who are committed to high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols to identify offenders and make the city centre safer for everyone. We’ve got some useful tips on how to keep you and your property safe while out and about.”

Last year, police recorded more than 80,000 crimes of robbery in England and Wales. That’s defined as any crime where an offender uses force or the threat of force to steal.

It can include:

– Mugging (where someone is attacked and robbed on the street)

– Robbery by intimidation (making someone think violence or force will be used to steal from them)

– Carjacking (using force to steal a vehicle)

– An armed robbery or a bank robbery

It is a more serious offence than simple theft and can leave victims suffering psychological harm, even triggering long-term mental health issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.