Crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham: statistics, rates and trends
729 crimes were recorded in Lobley Hill and Bensham in the 12 months to August 2026, 88.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 29% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham at a glance
- Crime trends in Lobley Hill and Bensham
- Types of crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham
- Lobley Hill and Bensham compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lobley Hill and Bensham
- Demographics of Lobley Hill and Bensham
- Questions about crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (254), anti-social behaviour (113) and criminal damage and arson (56) made up 58% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,555th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Lobley Hill and Bensham | Gateshead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 729 | 19,271 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 88.1 | 95.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -29% | -15% | -1% |
| Population | 8,270 | 202,760 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham of any year here (729 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 45%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 729 | 88.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,023 | 123.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 953 | 115.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 927 | 112.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,028 | 124.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,226 | 148.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,078 | 130.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,282 | 155.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,332 | 161.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 84 |
| July 2026 | 56 |
| June 2026 | 71 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 60 |
| March 2026 | 42 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| January 2026 | 25 |
| December 2025 | 65 |
| November 2025 | 67 |
| October 2025 | 67 |
| September 2025 | 91 |
Compared with England and Wales, Lobley Hill and Bensham recorded notably more other crime (2.1 times the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (28% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 38 to 47, while criminal damage and arson fell from 96 to 56 and other theft fell from 83 to 50.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 254 | 30.7 | 34.2 | -31% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 113 | 13.7 | 15.4 | -21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 56 | 6.8 | 6.7 | -42% |
| Other theft | 50 | 6.0 | 6.4 | -40% |
| Public order | 50 | 6.0 | 6.7 | -30% |
| Shoplifting | 50 | 6.0 | 8.5 | -17% |
| Vehicle crime | 47 | 5.7 | 5.0 | +24% |
| Other crime | 36 | 4.4 | 2.1 | +6% |
| Burglary | 34 | 4.1 | 3.6 | -32% |
| Drugs | 13 | 1.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 9 | 1.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Lobley Hill and Bensham; the highest is Bridges (217.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Dunston Hill and Whickham East (36.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lobley Hill and Bensham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunston and Teams | 1,047 | 111.4 | +26% |
| Saltwell | 826 | 68.0 | -23% |
| Dunston Hill and Whickham East | 317 | 36.0 | -59% |
| Low Fell | 434 | 45.1 | -49% |
| Bridges | 2,786 | 217.6 | +147% |
| Deckham | 846 | 87.2 | -1% |
| Chowdene | 1,167 | 146.5 | +66% |
| Whickham North | 1,130 | 192.5 | +118% |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Lobley Hill and Bensham over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cuthbert Street” (51).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cuthbert Street | 51 |
| On or near The Mill | 41 |
| On or near Saltwell Place | 39 |
| On or near Wolseley Close | 36 |
| On or near Consett Road | 34 |
| On or near Marian Court | 30 |
| On or near Peacock Court | 30 |
| On or near School Street | 29 |
| On or near Rectory Place | 25 |
| On or near Moorfoot Gardens | 19 |
Of the 616 crimes in Lobley Hill and Bensham with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 113 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 224 | 36.4% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 194 | 31.5% | 4.7% |
| Under investigation | 168 | 27.3% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 6 | 1.0% | 5.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 5 | 0.8% | 34.5% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.3% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Lobley Hill and Bensham has an estimated population of 8,270 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (30%, against 17%), more households without a car (38%, against 23%) and more residents with no qualifications (27%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Lobley Hill and Bensham average decile 3.8 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Lobley Hill and Bensham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 26.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 38.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 53.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 30.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.8 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 42.8% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Lobley Hill and Bensham a safe place to live?
Lobley Hill and Bensham recorded 88.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,555th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime.
What is the most common crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 254 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (113).
Is crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lobley Hill and Bensham was down 29% on the year before: 729 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,023 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Lobley Hill and Bensham?
About 8,270 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 20% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Lobley Hill and Bensham?
Lobley Hill and Bensham 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.