Crime in Washington South: statistics, rates and trends

672 crimes were recorded in Washington South in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.

672 crimes were recorded in Washington South in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 239 reports (36% of the total).

Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Washington South has the 2,209th highest crime rate.

MeasureWashington SouthSunderlandEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 202667228,6515,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents70.599.396.4
Change on previous 12 months-3%-15%-1%
Population9,535288,60658,797,018

Recorded crime in Washington South was highest in the year to July 2024 (817 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (672). Over the whole period it fell 9%, 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 202667270.596.4
Year to July 202569572.997.1
Year to July 202481785.797.7
Year to July 202376780.45.2
Year to July 202271775.2101.3
Year to July 202178982.7102.1
Year to July 202081285.2101.9
Year to July 201971174.6101.5
Year to July 201874077.6100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 202665
June 202660
May 202649
April 202645
March 202643
February 202631
January 202627
December 202564
November 202555
October 202564
September 202594
August 202575

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Washington South 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, other crime.

The largest increases were in other crime (+27%) and anti-social behaviour (+14%). The largest falls were in burglary (-30%) and public order (-21%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences23925.10.73-9%
Anti-social behaviour14715.41.00+14%
Criminal damage and arson838.71.28+12%
Public order444.60.69-21%
Other crime384.01.89+27%
Burglary353.71.04-30%
Other theft333.50.54+0%
Vehicle crime323.40.68-14%
Possession of weapons80.80.86+33%
Drugs40.40.13-56%
Robbery40.40.31-20%
Bicycle theft30.30.38+200%
Theft from the person20.20.12+100%

Violence and sexual offences in Washington South

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Washington South recorded 239 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 35.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Washington South

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Washington South recorded 147 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 21.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Washington South

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Washington South recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 12.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Washington South

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Washington South recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Washington South

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Washington South recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Washington South

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Washington South recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Washington South

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Washington South recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Washington South

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Washington South recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Washington South

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Washington South recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Washington South

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Washington South recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Washington South

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Washington South recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Washington South

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Washington South recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Washington South

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Washington South recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

NeighbourhoodCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Washington South
Washington Central1,136106.3+51%
Washington East74857.5-18%
Washington West74864.5-8%
Washington North1,420129.8+84%
Shiney Row80471.4+1%
Houghton1,13674.8+6%
St Anne's94890.8+29%
Castle1,272112.8+60%

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 Washington South over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Hylton Court44
On or near Parking Area35
On or near Dunstanburgh Close32
On or near Vigo Lane30
On or near Witton Court30
On or near Eddlestone25
On or near Lumley Close24
On or near Alnwick Court23
On or near Norham Court23
On or near Bamburgh Close21

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Washington South 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 identified20630.7%
Status update unavailable15923.7%
Not recorded14721.9%
Under investigation13720.4%
Awaiting court outcome121.8%
Court result unavailable71.0%
Unable to prosecute suspect20.3%
Offender given a caution20.3%

Washington South has an estimated population of 9,535. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Washington South sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureWashington South
Aged 0 to 1515.4%
Aged 16 to 6458.8%
Aged 65 and over25.8%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage66.5%
Social rented homes22.0%
Private rented homes11.4%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)5.8
Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas17.3%

Is Washington South a safe place to live?

Washington South recorded 70.5 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 Washington South?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 239 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (147).

Is crime in Washington South going up or down?

Recorded crime in Washington South was down 3% on the year before: 672 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 695 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Washington South?

Washington South 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 Washington South. 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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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/washington-south">https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/washington-south</a>