Crime in Pelton: statistics, rates and trends
1,234 crimes were recorded in Pelton in the 12 months to August 2026, 79.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (437), anti-social behaviour (290) and criminal damage and arson (215) made up 76% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,874th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Pelton | County Durham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,234 | 64,837 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 79.2 | 120.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 15,579 | 538,011 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Pelton peaked in the year to August 2020 (1,744 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (1,204). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,234 | 79.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,277 | 82.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,232 | 79.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,325 | 85.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,204 | 77.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,364 | 87.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,744 | 111.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,344 | 86.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,561 | 100.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 121 |
| July 2026 | 150 |
| June 2026 | 106 |
| May 2026 | 96 |
| April 2026 | 109 |
| March 2026 | 117 |
| February 2026 | 115 |
| January 2026 | 90 |
| December 2025 | 99 |
| November 2025 | 62 |
| October 2025 | 82 |
| September 2025 | 87 |
Compared with England and Wales, Pelton recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (2.0 times the national rate) and other crime (43% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (65% below) and public order (42% below). On the year before, other theft rose from 43 to 61 and criminal damage and arson rose from 154 to 215, while vehicle crime fell from 52 to 27 and burglary fell from 71 to 46.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 437 | 28.1 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 290 | 18.6 | 15.4 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 215 | 13.8 | 6.7 | +40% |
| Other theft | 61 | 3.9 | 6.4 | +42% |
| Public order | 60 | 3.9 | 6.7 | -13% |
| Other crime | 47 | 3.0 | 2.1 | -6% |
| Burglary | 46 | 3.0 | 3.6 | -35% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 1.7 | 5.0 | -48% |
| Drugs | 16 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 16 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Pelton; the highest is Stanley, County Durham (182.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Chester-le-Street South (63.8).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Pelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lodge | 465 | 87.6 | +11% |
| Chester-le-Street North | 1,626 | 181.4 | +129% |
| Chester-le-Street South | 721 | 63.8 | -20% |
| Stanley | 1,872 | 182.0 | +130% |
| Craghead & South Moor | 1,709 | 132.6 | +67% |
| Sacriston & Witton Gilbert | 1,125 | 105.8 | +34% |
| Lumley & West Rainton | 820 | 82.1 | +4% |
| Annfield Plain & Tanfield | 1,148 | 108.3 | +37% |
The 10 locations below account for 28% of the crime recorded in Pelton over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (67).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 67 |
| On or near Hylton Terrace | 44 |
| On or near Fell Road | 42 |
| On or near Pelton Lane | 38 |
| On or near Orchard Street | 30 |
| On or near Vicarage Close | 27 |
| On or near Front Street | 26 |
| On or near Ascot Place | 25 |
| On or near Brecon Place | 25 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 24 |
Of the 944 crimes in Pelton with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 290 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 402 | 42.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 310 | 32.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 103 | 10.9% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 51 | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 9 | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 0.4% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Pelton has an estimated population of 15,579 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.9%, against 7.9%), less private renting (14%, against 20%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (26%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Pelton average decile 4.9 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Pelton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 8.9% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Pelton a safe place to live?
Pelton recorded 79.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,874th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson and other crime.
What is the most common crime in Pelton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 437 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (290).
Is crime in Pelton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Pelton was down 3% on the year before: 1,234 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,277 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Pelton?
About 15,579 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Pelton?
Pelton is policed by Durham.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.