Crime in High Fell: statistics, rates and trends
1,382 crimes were recorded in High Fell in the 12 months to July 2026, 141.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in High Fell at a glance
- Crime trends in High Fell
- Types of crime in High Fell
- High Fell compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in High Fell
- What happened after crimes were reported in High Fell
- Population and deprivation in High Fell
- Questions about crime in High Fell
- About this data
1,382 crimes were recorded in High Fell in the 12 months to July 2026, 141.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 391 reports (28% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, High Fell has the 515th highest crime rate.
| Measure | High Fell | Gateshead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,382 | 19,584 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 141.7 | 96.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -13% | -1% |
| Population | 9,751 | 202,760 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in High Fell was highest in the year to July 2019 (2,189 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,380). Over the whole period it fell 32%, 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 | 1,382 | 141.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,420 | 145.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,380 | 141.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,665 | 170.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,542 | 158.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,805 | 185.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,914 | 196.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,189 | 224.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,039 | 209.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 118 |
| June 2026 | 125 |
| May 2026 | 169 |
| April 2026 | 110 |
| March 2026 | 115 |
| February 2026 | 92 |
| January 2026 | 29 |
| December 2025 | 136 |
| November 2025 | 143 |
| October 2025 | 120 |
| September 2025 | 105 |
| August 2025 | 120 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in High Fell 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 shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+69%). The largest falls were in burglary (-39%) and drugs (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 391 | 40.1 | 1.17 | -21% |
| Shoplifting | 323 | 33.1 | 4.00 | +69% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 204 | 20.9 | 1.36 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 134 | 13.7 | 2.03 | -11% |
| Public order | 78 | 8.0 | 1.20 | -18% |
| Other theft | 60 | 6.2 | 0.96 | -2% |
| Robbery | 38 | 3.9 | 2.88 | +192% |
| Vehicle crime | 38 | 3.9 | 0.79 | -12% |
| Other crime | 37 | 3.8 | 1.80 | -14% |
| Burglary | 33 | 3.4 | 0.96 | -39% |
| Drugs | 26 | 2.7 | 0.82 | -28% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 1.0 | 1.06 | -17% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.7 | 0.42 | +133% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.37 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in High Fell
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. High Fell recorded 391 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 28.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in High Fell
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. High Fell recorded 323 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 69% on the year before. It made up 23.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in High Fell
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. High Fell recorded 204 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 14.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in High Fell
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. High Fell recorded 134 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in High Fell
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. High Fell recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in High Fell
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. High Fell recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in High Fell
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. High Fell recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 192% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in High Fell
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. High Fell recorded 38 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 down 12% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in High Fell
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. High Fell recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in High Fell
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. High Fell recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in High Fell
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. High Fell recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in High Fell
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. High Fell recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in High Fell
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. High Fell recorded 7 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 up 133% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in High Fell
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. High Fell recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to High Fell, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to High Fell.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs High Fell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windy Nook and Whitehills | 788 | 84.5 | -40% |
| Chowdene | 1,197 | 150.3 | +6% |
| Low Fell | 443 | 46.0 | -68% |
| Deckham | 877 | 90.4 | -36% |
| Felling | 914 | 119.8 | -16% |
| Lamesley | 1,036 | 105.7 | -25% |
| Saltwell | 859 | 70.7 | -50% |
| Pelaw and Heworth | 623 | 75.5 | -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 High Fell over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 251 |
| On or near Carlisle Place | 102 |
| On or near Parking Area | 91 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 74 |
| On or near B1296 | 51 |
| On or near Balmlaw | 49 |
| On or near High Street | 41 |
| On or near Vicarage Close | 36 |
| On or near Hospital | 35 |
| On or near Aycliffe Avenue | 31 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in High Fell 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 | 419 | 30.3% |
| Under investigation | 383 | 27.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 273 | 19.8% |
| Not recorded | 204 | 14.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 84 | 6.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 0.9% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 3 | 0.2% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% |
| Local resolution | 1 | 0.1% |
High Fell has an estimated population of 9,751. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in High Fell sits in decile 2.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | High Fell |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 40.1% |
| Social rented homes | 48.9% |
| Private rented homes | 10.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 48.2% |
Is High Fell a safe place to live?
High Fell recorded 141.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 High Fell?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 391 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (323).
Is crime in High Fell going up or down?
Recorded crime in High Fell was down 3% on the year before: 1,382 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,420 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers High Fell?
High Fell 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 High Fell. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.