We visit Birmingham's most dangerous neighbourhood: 'It's tense, especially for women'

Bordesley Green is officially among the most dangerous areas in Birmingham outside the city centre.

According to West Midlands Police, violent and sexual offences make up the majority of reported crimes here — with more than 150 incidents recorded in just one recent month.

But the numbers only go so far. To understand what it’s really like to live here, we went to Bordesley Green to hear directly from those who know it best — the residents.

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“It’s tense, especially for women”

Safety is a daily concern for many, especially women. One resident described the atmosphere as “tense,” with a constant need to stay alert.

“Not so safe. I feel like it's rather tense. You have to be very cautious — cars coming or other people are coming. Sometimes alright, depending on if you're a man, but unless you're a woman.”

Another resident, clearly more at ease with the area, explained that familiarity can change your perspective: “I know everybody around here, so nobody ain't gonna bother me. But that's just me. But for other people, it might be that way. You know, they might feel unsafe because they haven't been around here long.”

Not all experiences are negative. Some residents say they feel comfortable walking around, even at night — though there’s an awareness of recent incidents.

Watch the video for the full report.

“No, I think we're all safe. We've all felt safe. I have anyway. Yeah, I walk around at night and at day. It seems safer in myself. I heard there was a little something going on down the road a couple of weeks ago, but I don't know. I've never saw anything happen.”

Police data shows high levels of antisocial behaviour and violence in Bordesley Green. But for locals, the issue goes deeper than crime stats. The conversation quickly turns to long-standing social and economic issues — lack of support, neglected public spaces, and underfunded services.

“It's not really looked after, so more people are going to go places they don't really care about. And there's more places to hide and overall there's more connections with other areas, so it's easier to go through.”

“West Midlands Police don't even pay attention here no more. They've given up on the area.”

The sense of being overlooked was echoed by others, who pointed to inequalities in how different areas are policed:

“If there's a fight or a disturbance happening down the road here, they won't bother. Until the crime's over, until someone's murdered, then they'll come. But where there's clash areas, like, for example, Sutton Coldfield, Walmley, go over them sides — they'll go there straight away.”

Several people we spoke to also stressed the need to support vulnerable individuals in the community, such as those dealing with addiction or homelessness — not just punish them.

“Probably I'd say there's a lot of people that need help around here. Homeless people, people with addictions and that — not getting help. I'd say help them is probably solving a lot of the problem.”

“Myself, I think they're treated as criminals when they should be treated as people who need medical help.”

Bordesley Green is a place of families, school runs, shops and strong community ties — but it’s also an area facing long-term neglect and rising concern around safety.

Read more: The top 20 most dangerous towns & cities in the West Midlands revealed, including Birmingham - see rankings

While official figures tell one side of the story, residents say it’s the lack of investment, visible policing, and support for struggling locals that fuels the challenges they face.

Whether it’s tensions around gendered safety, frustration at policing, or calls for compassion toward those in crisis, the voices of Bordesley Green are united in one thing: they want to feel safe — and they want to be heard.