Crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill: statistics, rates and trends
898 crimes were recorded in Thornley & Wheatley Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 152.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill at a glance
- Crime trends in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
- Types of crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
- Thornley & Wheatley Hill compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
- What happened after crimes were reported in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
- Population and deprivation in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
- Questions about crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
- About this data
898 crimes were recorded in Thornley & Wheatley Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 152.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 229 reports (26% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Thornley & Wheatley Hill has the 412th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Thornley & Wheatley Hill | County Durham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 898 | 64,238 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 152.9 | 119.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 5,874 | 538,011 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,069 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (766). Over the whole period it rose 4%, 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 | 898 | 152.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 847 | 144.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 781 | 133.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 766 | 130.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 856 | 145.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,069 | 182.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 962 | 163.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 895 | 152.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 861 | 146.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 92 |
| June 2026 | 55 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 67 |
| March 2026 | 89 |
| February 2026 | 56 |
| January 2026 | 70 |
| December 2025 | 68 |
| November 2025 | 104 |
| October 2025 | 69 |
| September 2025 | 70 |
| August 2025 | 81 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Thornley & Wheatley Hill 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 criminal damage and arson, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting.
The largest increases were in other theft (+53%) and shoplifting (+42%). The largest falls were in other crime (-35%) and burglary (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 229 | 39.0 | 1.14 | -14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 186 | 31.7 | 4.67 | +7% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 135 | 23.0 | 1.50 | +12% |
| Shoplifting | 132 | 22.5 | 2.71 | +42% |
| Other theft | 52 | 8.9 | 1.38 | +53% |
| Burglary | 40 | 6.8 | 1.93 | -15% |
| Public order | 39 | 6.6 | 1.00 | +5% |
| Vehicle crime | 32 | 5.4 | 1.11 | +23% |
| Other crime | 20 | 3.4 | 1.61 | -35% |
| Drugs | 19 | 3.2 | 0.99 | +171% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 1.0 | 1.05 | +50% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.9 | 0.63 | -29% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.5 | 0.30 | +200% |
Violence and sexual offences in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 229 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 25.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 20.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 15.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 132 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 14.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 171% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 6 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 up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Thornley & Wheatley Hill
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Thornley & Wheatley Hill, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Thornley & Wheatley Hill.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Thornley & Wheatley Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimdon & Wingate | 1,490 | 124.8 | -18% |
| Easington & Shotton | 2,376 | 137.4 | -10% |
| Castle Eden & Passfield | 556 | 86.9 | -43% |
| Peterlee | 1,712 | 133.4 | -13% |
| Pittington & Sherburn | 380 | 79.2 | -48% |
| Bowburn & Coxhoe | 1,513 | 96.9 | -37% |
| Horden & Dene House | 2,293 | 206.7 | +35% |
| Murton | 1,727 | 158.8 | +4% |
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 Thornley & Wheatley Hill over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Quilstyle Road | 98 |
| On or near Supermarket | 88 |
| On or near Quetlaw Road | 74 |
| On or near Shakespeare Street | 59 |
| On or near Moor View | 35 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 32 |
| On or near Cedar Court | 31 |
| On or near Percy Street | 29 |
| On or near Byron Street | 27 |
| On or near Wingate Lane | 27 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Thornley & Wheatley Hill 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 | 324 | 36.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 212 | 23.6% |
| Not recorded | 135 | 15.0% |
| Under investigation | 79 | 8.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 57 | 6.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 26 | 2.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 1.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 13 | 1.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.4% |
Thornley & Wheatley Hill has an estimated population of 5,874. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Thornley & Wheatley Hill sits in decile 2.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Thornley & Wheatley Hill |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.3% |
| Social rented homes | 24.8% |
| Private rented homes | 13.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.3 |
Is Thornley & Wheatley Hill a safe place to live?
Thornley & Wheatley Hill recorded 152.9 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 Thornley & Wheatley Hill?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 229 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (186).
Is crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill going up or down?
Recorded crime in Thornley & Wheatley Hill was up 6% on the year before: 898 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 847 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Thornley & Wheatley Hill?
Thornley & Wheatley Hill is policed by Durham. 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 Thornley & Wheatley Hill. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.