40 deaths a year due to crime across the West Midlands

CRIMINAL action kills more than 40 people in West Midlands every year.

Figures reveal that between 2014/15 and 2017/18 there were 167 crimes committed in the West Midlands that resulted in a death. In total there were 126 murders and nine manslaughters.

The analysis does not include the 89 cases where someone caused death or serious injury by dangerous driving. Careless or inconsiderate driving caused another 15 deaths.

There was also one case of intentional destruction of a viable unborn child – the crime of killing an unborn but viable foetus that is a child “capable of being born alive”.

There were also nine cases of causing death by aggravated vehicle taking and three cases of causing the death of a child or a vulnerable person recorded in the West Midlands over the four year period.

Across England and Wales, there have been 3,561 crimes committed that caused a death since 2014/15.

There were also a further 1,999 cases of dangerous driving that either caused death or serious injuries, so the number of deadly crimes is likely to be even higher.

Of the crimes, 2,037 were murders, 498 manslaughters and 35 corporate manslaughters recorded.

Careless or inconsiderate driving caused death 568 times, while careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs led to death 93 times.

The crime of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person was recorded 101 times during the last four years, and there were also three incidents of infanticide during that time.