Crime in Cowpen: statistics, rates and trends
693 crimes were recorded in Cowpen in the 12 months to August 2026, 101.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 24% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (245), anti-social behaviour (111) and criminal damage and arson (72) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,201st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Cowpen | Northumberland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 693 | 25,844 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 101.3 | 78.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -24% | -14% | -1% |
| Population | 6,840 | 331,420 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Cowpen of any year here (693 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 54%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 693 | 101.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 917 | 134.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,066 | 155.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,184 | 173.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,119 | 163.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,195 | 174.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,067 | 156.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,364 | 199.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,507 | 220.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 73 |
| July 2026 | 63 |
| June 2026 | 52 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 62 |
| March 2026 | 66 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| January 2026 | 27 |
| December 2025 | 60 |
| November 2025 | 57 |
| October 2025 | 77 |
| September 2025 | 55 |
Compared with England and Wales, Cowpen recorded notably more other crime (2.6 times the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (56% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (41% below) and other theft (23% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 27 to 37, while public order fell from 64 to 41 and anti-social behaviour fell from 156 to 111.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 245 | 35.8 | 34.2 | -27% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 111 | 16.2 | 15.4 | -29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 72 | 10.5 | 6.7 | -22% |
| Shoplifting | 60 | 8.8 | 8.5 | -13% |
| Public order | 41 | 6.0 | 6.7 | -36% |
| Other crime | 37 | 5.4 | 2.1 | +37% |
| Other theft | 34 | 5.0 | 6.4 | -26% |
| Burglary | 28 | 4.1 | 3.6 | -22% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 2.9 | 5.0 | -9% |
| Drugs | 17 | 2.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 1.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 9 | 1.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Cowpen; the highest is Croft, Northumberland (238.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Plessey (33.6).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cowpen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bebside & Kitty Brewster | 233 | 51.7 | -49% |
| Croft | 1,471 | 238.0 | +135% |
| Isabella | 887 | 131.8 | +30% |
| Newsham | 863 | 138.2 | +36% |
| Wensleydale | 315 | 99.2 | -2% |
| Plessey | 101 | 33.6 | -67% |
| South Blyth | 474 | 94.2 | -7% |
| Bedlington East | 538 | 90.8 | -10% |
The 10 locations below account for 43% of the crime recorded in Cowpen over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Brierley Road” (49).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Brierley Road | 49 |
| On or near Cowley Place | 39 |
| On or near Teesdale Place | 36 |
| On or near Supermarket | 35 |
| On or near Gareston Close | 28 |
| On or near Briardale Road | 25 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 23 |
| On or near Hall Green | 22 |
| On or near Greendale Close | 21 |
| On or near Thropton Court | 20 |
Of the 582 crimes in Cowpen with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 0.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 111 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under investigation | 194 | 33.3% | 11.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 190 | 32.6% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 169 | 29.0% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 3.1% | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 0.7% | 5.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 4 | 0.7% | 34.5% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.3% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.2% | 0.6% |
Cowpen has an estimated population of 6,840 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (44%, against 17%), more residents with no qualifications (29%, against 18%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (15%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cowpen average decile 1.4 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Cowpen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 48.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 21.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 14.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 28.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 36.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 42.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 44.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.4 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 79.8% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Cowpen a safe place to live?
Cowpen recorded 101.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,201st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Cowpen?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 245 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (111).
Is crime in Cowpen going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cowpen was down 24% on the year before: 693 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 917 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cowpen?
About 6,840 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 18% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cowpen?
Cowpen is policed by Northumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.