Crime in Hirst: statistics, rates and trends
1,085 crimes were recorded in Hirst in the 12 months to July 2026, 155.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 23% on the year before.
1,085 crimes were recorded in Hirst in the 12 months to July 2026, 155.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 23% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 440 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Hirst has the 391st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Hirst | Northumberland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,085 | 26,302 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 155.9 | 79.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -23% | -13% | -1% |
| Population | 6,960 | 331,420 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Hirst was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,822 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,085). Over the whole period it fell 38%, 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 | 1,085 | 155.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,404 | 201.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,581 | 227.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,571 | 225.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,512 | 217.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,822 | 261.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,596 | 229.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,627 | 233.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,753 | 251.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 97 |
| June 2026 | 66 |
| May 2026 | 122 |
| April 2026 | 83 |
| March 2026 | 89 |
| February 2026 | 53 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 75 |
| November 2025 | 93 |
| October 2025 | 133 |
| September 2025 | 114 |
| August 2025 | 118 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Hirst 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson. The largest falls were in public order (-59%) and shoplifting (-55%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 440 | 63.2 | 1.85 | -21% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 164 | 23.6 | 1.54 | +6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 151 | 21.7 | 3.20 | -20% |
| Burglary | 64 | 9.2 | 2.60 | +8% |
| Other crime | 56 | 8.0 | 3.81 | -2% |
| Other theft | 54 | 7.8 | 1.21 | -44% |
| Public order | 45 | 6.5 | 0.97 | -59% |
| Vehicle crime | 45 | 6.5 | 1.31 | -4% |
| Drugs | 30 | 4.3 | 1.32 | -38% |
| Shoplifting | 15 | 2.2 | 0.26 | -55% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 1.1 | 1.18 | -56% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.7 | 0.43 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.6 | 0.70 | -69% |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.6 | 0.43 | -73% |
Violence and sexual offences in Hirst
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Hirst recorded 440 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (63.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 40.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Hirst
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Hirst recorded 164 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 15.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Hirst
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Hirst recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 13.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Hirst
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Hirst recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Hirst
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Hirst recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Hirst
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Hirst recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Hirst
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Hirst recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 59% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Hirst
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Hirst recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Hirst
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Hirst recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Hirst
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Hirst recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Hirst
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Hirst recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Hirst
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Hirst recorded 5 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 25% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Hirst
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Hirst recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 69% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Hirst
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Hirst recorded 4 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 down 73% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Hirst, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Hirst.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hirst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashington Central | 769 | 196.9 | +26% |
| Seaton with Spital | 183 | 49.4 | -68% |
| College with North Seaton | 862 | 137.7 | -12% |
| Haydon | 310 | 73.7 | -53% |
| Bothal | 359 | 71.2 | -54% |
| Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | 668 | 114.2 | -27% |
| Stakeford | 357 | 80.5 | -48% |
| Sleekburn | 600 | 132.5 | -15% |
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 Hirst over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Castle Terrace | 95 |
| On or near Sixth Avenue | 77 |
| On or near Fifth Avenue | 75 |
| On or near First Avenue | 69 |
| On or near Pont Street | 61 |
| On or near Alexandra Road | 59 |
| On or near Fourth Avenue | 54 |
| On or near Rosalind Street | 46 |
| On or near Welfare Crescent | 44 |
| On or near Third Avenue | 42 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Hirst 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 | 339 | 31.2% |
| Under investigation | 265 | 24.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 262 | 24.1% |
| Not recorded | 164 | 15.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 1.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 13 | 1.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 11 | 1.0% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Hirst has an estimated population of 6,960. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Hirst sits in decile 1.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Hirst |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 39.7% |
| Social rented homes | 22.3% |
| Private rented homes | 37.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 100.0% |
Is Hirst a safe place to live?
Hirst recorded 155.9 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 Hirst?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 440 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (164).
Is crime in Hirst going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hirst was down 23% on the year before: 1,085 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,404 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Hirst?
Hirst 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 Hirst. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.