Crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham: statistics, rates and trends
297 crimes were recorded in Barnard Castle, County Durham in the 12 months to July 2026, 65.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham at a glance
- Crime trends in Barnard Castle, County Durham
- Types of crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham
- Barnard Castle, County Durham compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Barnard Castle, County Durham
- Population and deprivation in Barnard Castle, County Durham
- Questions about crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham
- About this data
297 crimes were recorded in Barnard Castle, County Durham in the 12 months to July 2026, 65.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 113 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Barnard Castle, County Durham has the 2,414th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Barnard Castle, County Durham | County Durham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 297 | 64,238 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 65.4 | 119.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -17% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 4,542 | 538,011 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham was highest in the year to July 2023 (402 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (264). Over the whole period it rose 10%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 297 | 65.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 356 | 78.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 376 | 82.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 402 | 88.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 362 | 79.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 321 | 70.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 342 | 75.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 264 | 58.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 269 | 59.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 21 |
| June 2026 | 20 |
| May 2026 | 38 |
| April 2026 | 33 |
| March 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 26 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 18 |
| October 2025 | 29 |
| September 2025 | 28 |
| August 2025 | 25 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Barnard Castle, 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. The largest falls were in shoplifting (-54%) and criminal damage and arson (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 113 | 24.9 | 0.73 | +8% |
| Shoplifting | 40 | 8.8 | 1.06 | -54% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 39 | 8.6 | 0.56 | -11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 28 | 6.2 | 0.91 | -28% |
| Public order | 23 | 5.1 | 0.76 | +21% |
| Other theft | 17 | 3.7 | 0.59 | +21% |
| Other crime | 10 | 2.2 | 1.04 | -38% |
| Burglary | 9 | 2.0 | 0.56 | -18% |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 2.0 | 0.40 | +80% |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.1 | 0.34 | -58% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.4 | 0.33 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 0.23 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.13 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 38.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 54% on the year before. It made up 13.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 9.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 80% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 58% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Barnard Castle, County Durham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Barnard Castle, County Durham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Barnard Castle, County Durham.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Barnard Castle, County Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Teesdale | 704 | 79.0 | +21% |
| Upper Teesdale | 256 | 51.1 | -22% |
| Evenwood | 364 | 82.2 | +26% |
| West Auckland | 1,794 | 153.9 | +135% |
| Bishop Auckland | 3,208 | 193.0 | +195% |
| Shildon & Dene Valley | 2,979 | 161.2 | +146% |
| Crook | 1,540 | 107.8 | +65% |
| Weardale | 719 | 71.2 | +9% |
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 Barnard Castle, County Durham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Horse Market | 23 |
| On or near Parking Area | 23 |
| On or near Supermarket | 20 |
| On or near Dale Road | 15 |
| On or near Richardson Fields | 15 |
| On or near A688 | 14 |
| On or near Beaconsfield Court | 11 |
| On or near Pearson Terrace | 11 |
| On or near Dawson Road | 10 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Barnard Castle, 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 104 | 35.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 65 | 21.9% |
| Not recorded | 39 | 13.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 8.8% |
| Under investigation | 21 | 7.1% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 4.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 3.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 8 | 2.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
Barnard Castle, County Durham has an estimated population of 4,542. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Barnard Castle, County Durham sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Barnard Castle, County Durham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 52.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.0% |
| Social rented homes | 18.9% |
| Private rented homes | 13.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 |
Is Barnard Castle, County Durham a safe place to live?
Barnard Castle, County Durham recorded 65.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (40).
Is crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Barnard Castle, County Durham was down 17% on the year before: 297 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 356 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Barnard Castle, County Durham?
Barnard Castle, County Durham is policed by Durham. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Barnard Castle, County Durham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.