Crime in Wardley and Leam Lane: statistics, rates and trends

719 crimes were recorded in Wardley and Leam Lane in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before.

719 crimes were recorded in Wardley and Leam Lane in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 231 reports (32% of the total).

Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Wardley and Leam Lane has the 1,779th highest crime rate.

MeasureWardley and Leam LaneGatesheadEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 202671919,5845,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents82.096.696.4
Change on previous 12 months-15%-13%-1%
Population8,766202,76058,797,018

Recorded crime in Wardley and Leam Lane was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,019 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (719). Over the whole period it fell 16%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 202671982.096.4
Year to July 202584195.997.1
Year to July 2024878100.297.7
Year to July 202385797.85.2
Year to July 202279991.1101.3
Year to July 202180792.1102.1
Year to July 202079490.6101.9
Year to July 20191,019116.2101.5
Year to July 201885897.9100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 202680
June 202666
May 202664
April 202642
March 202645
February 202635
January 202615
December 202572
November 202563
October 202594
September 202579
August 202564

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Wardley and Leam Lane 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 burglary, other crime.

The largest increases were in burglary (+45%) and shoplifting (+44%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-35%) and public order (-33%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences23126.40.77-15%
Anti-social behaviour13915.91.03-17%
Shoplifting697.90.95+44%
Public order566.40.96-33%
Criminal damage and arson546.20.91-35%
Burglary455.11.45+45%
Other theft434.90.77-9%
Other crime343.91.84+17%
Vehicle crime232.60.53-32%
Drugs141.60.49-22%
Theft from the person40.50.27-50%
Possession of weapons30.30.35-73%
Robbery30.30.25-50%
Bicycle theft10.10.14-67%

Violence and sexual offences in Wardley and Leam Lane

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 231 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 32.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Wardley and Leam Lane

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 19.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Wardley and Leam Lane

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Wardley and Leam Lane

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Wardley and Leam Lane

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Wardley and Leam Lane

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 45% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Wardley and Leam Lane

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Wardley and Leam Lane

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Wardley and Leam Lane

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Wardley and Leam Lane

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Wardley and Leam Lane

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 4 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 down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Wardley and Leam Lane

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 73% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Wardley and Leam Lane

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Wardley and Leam Lane

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Wardley and Leam Lane, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Wardley and Leam Lane.

NeighbourhoodCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Wardley and Leam Lane
Pelaw and Heworth62375.5-8%
Windy Nook and Whitehills78884.5+3%
Felling914119.8+46%
High Fell1,382141.7+73%
Deckham87790.4+10%
Low Fell44346.0-44%
Chowdene1,197150.3+83%
Bridges2,799218.6+166%

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 Wardley and Leam Lane over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Supermarket77
On or near Prince George Square65
On or near Staindrop50
On or near Meresyde36
On or near Hopedene33
On or near Chevington30
On or near Falstone21
On or near Whinbrooke21
On or near Alderwyk20
On or near Petrol Station19

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wardley and Leam Lane 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Investigation complete; no suspect identified24233.7%
Status update unavailable16322.7%
Under investigation15721.8%
Not recorded13919.3%
Court result unavailable60.8%
Offender given a caution50.7%
Awaiting court outcome40.6%
Local resolution10.1%
Further action is not in the public interest10.1%
Unable to prosecute suspect10.1%

Wardley and Leam Lane has an estimated population of 8,766. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wardley and Leam Lane sits in decile 4.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureWardley and Leam Lane
Aged 0 to 1516.4%
Aged 16 to 6459.1%
Aged 65 and over24.5%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage65.3%
Social rented homes25.2%
Private rented homes9.4%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)4.8

Is Wardley and Leam Lane a safe place to live?

Wardley and Leam Lane recorded 82.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Wardley and Leam Lane?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 231 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (139).

Is crime in Wardley and Leam Lane going up or down?

Recorded crime in Wardley and Leam Lane was down 15% on the year before: 719 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 841 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Wardley and Leam Lane?

Wardley and Leam Lane 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 Wardley and Leam Lane. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.

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