Crime in County Durham: statistics, rates and trends

64,238 crimes were recorded in County Durham in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 21,783 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, County Durham has the 52nd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in County Durham was highest in the year to July 2020 (66,581 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (59,410). Over the whole period it fell 1%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in County Durham over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson, shoplifting.

The largest increases were in robbery (+49%) and theft from the person (+25%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-30%).

Violence and sexual offences in County Durham

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. County Durham recorded 21,783 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 33.9% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in County Durham

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. County Durham recorded 12,112 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 18.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in County Durham

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. County Durham recorded 7,763 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 12.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in County Durham

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. County Durham recorded 6,610 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in County Durham

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. County Durham recorded 3,983 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in County Durham

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. County Durham recorded 2,980 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in County Durham

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. County Durham recorded 2,489 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in County Durham

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. County Durham recorded 2,124 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in County Durham

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. County Durham recorded 2,084 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in County Durham

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. County Durham recorded 1,168 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in County Durham

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. County Durham recorded 485 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in County Durham

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. County Durham recorded 336 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 49% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in County Durham

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. County Durham recorded 190 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in County Durham

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. County Durham recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to County Durham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to County Durham.

128 areas within County Durham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Eldon Lane and Coundon Grange had the highest rate (235.9 per 1,000) and Urpeth the lowest (16.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in County Durham over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in County Durham over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

County Durham has an estimated population of 538,011. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in County Durham sits in decile 4.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to County Durham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.