Crime in Birtley, Gateshead: statistics, rates and trends
684 crimes were recorded in Birtley, Gateshead in the 12 months to July 2026, 81.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 29% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Birtley, Gateshead at a glance
- Crime trends in Birtley, Gateshead
- Types of crime in Birtley, Gateshead
- Birtley, Gateshead compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Birtley, Gateshead
- What happened after crimes were reported in Birtley, Gateshead
- Population and deprivation in Birtley, Gateshead
- Questions about crime in Birtley, Gateshead
- About this data
684 crimes were recorded in Birtley, Gateshead in the 12 months to July 2026, 81.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 29% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 181 reports (26% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Birtley, Gateshead has the 1,804th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Birtley, Gateshead | Gateshead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 684 | 19,584 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 81.4 | 96.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -29% | -13% | -1% |
| Population | 8,407 | 202,760 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Birtley, Gateshead was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,237 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (684). Over the whole period it fell 45%, 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 | 684 | 81.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 961 | 114.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 795 | 94.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 907 | 107.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,135 | 135.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,151 | 136.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,054 | 125.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,128 | 134.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,237 | 147.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 38 |
| June 2026 | 48 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 60 |
| March 2026 | 64 |
| February 2026 | 41 |
| January 2026 | 36 |
| December 2025 | 75 |
| November 2025 | 67 |
| October 2025 | 68 |
| September 2025 | 61 |
| August 2025 | 67 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Birtley, Gateshead 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 burglary, other crime.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+29%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-72%) and drugs (-69%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 181 | 21.5 | 0.63 | -37% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 154 | 18.3 | 1.19 | +29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 60 | 7.1 | 1.05 | -3% |
| Burglary | 52 | 6.2 | 1.75 | -19% |
| Shoplifting | 51 | 6.1 | 0.73 | -72% |
| Vehicle crime | 51 | 6.1 | 1.23 | -2% |
| Public order | 39 | 4.6 | 0.70 | -28% |
| Other theft | 36 | 4.3 | 0.67 | -44% |
| Other crime | 31 | 3.7 | 1.75 | -14% |
| Robbery | 10 | 1.2 | 0.88 | +67% |
| Drugs | 8 | 1.0 | 0.29 | -69% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.7 | 0.42 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.5 | 0.49 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.14 | -80% |
Violence and sexual offences in Birtley, Gateshead
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 181 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 26.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Birtley, Gateshead
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 154 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 22.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Birtley, Gateshead
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Birtley, Gateshead
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Birtley, Gateshead
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 72% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Birtley, Gateshead
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Birtley, Gateshead
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Birtley, Gateshead
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Birtley, Gateshead
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Birtley, Gateshead
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Birtley, Gateshead
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 69% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Birtley, Gateshead
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Birtley, Gateshead
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Birtley, Gateshead
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Birtley, Gateshead recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 80% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Birtley, Gateshead, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Birtley, Gateshead.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birtley, Gateshead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamesley | 1,036 | 105.7 | +30% |
| Chowdene | 1,197 | 150.3 | +85% |
| High Fell | 1,382 | 141.7 | +74% |
| Low Fell | 443 | 46.0 | -43% |
| Windy Nook and Whitehills | 788 | 84.5 | +4% |
| Wardley and Leam Lane | 719 | 82.0 | +1% |
| Deckham | 877 | 90.4 | +11% |
| Felling | 914 | 119.8 | +47% |
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 Birtley, Gateshead over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 61 |
| On or near Parking Area | 48 |
| On or near Beaconsfield Terrace | 47 |
| On or near Holyoake Gardens | 29 |
| On or near York Road | 28 |
| On or near Pine Street | 24 |
| On or near Church Street | 21 |
| On or near Motorway Service Area | 18 |
| On or near Dorset Avenue | 15 |
| On or near Cheshire Avenue | 14 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Birtley, Gateshead 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 262 | 38.3% |
| Not recorded | 154 | 22.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 131 | 19.2% |
| Under investigation | 120 | 17.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 1.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 4 | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.1% |
Birtley, Gateshead has an estimated population of 8,407. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Birtley, Gateshead sits in decile 4.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Birtley, Gateshead |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.8% |
| Social rented homes | 23.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 |
Is Birtley, Gateshead a safe place to live?
Birtley, Gateshead recorded 81.4 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 Birtley, Gateshead?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 181 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (154).
Is crime in Birtley, Gateshead going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birtley, Gateshead was down 29% on the year before: 684 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 961 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Birtley, Gateshead?
Birtley, Gateshead is policed by Northumbria. 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 Birtley, Gateshead. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.