Crime in Washington West: statistics, rates and trends
748 crimes were recorded in Washington West in the 12 months to July 2026, 64.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Washington West at a glance
- Crime trends in Washington West
- Types of crime in Washington West
- Washington West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Washington West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Washington West
- Population and deprivation in Washington West
- Questions about crime in Washington West
- About this data
748 crimes were recorded in Washington West in the 12 months to July 2026, 64.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 186 reports (25% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Washington West has the 2,447th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Washington West | Sunderland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 748 | 28,651 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 64.5 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -19% | -15% | -1% |
| Population | 11,589 | 288,606 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Washington West was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,273 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (748). Over the whole period it fell 41%, 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 | 748 | 64.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 926 | 79.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,021 | 88.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,177 | 101.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 964 | 83.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,088 | 93.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,154 | 99.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,272 | 109.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,273 | 109.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 75 |
| June 2026 | 60 |
| May 2026 | 63 |
| April 2026 | 82 |
| March 2026 | 49 |
| February 2026 | 32 |
| January 2026 | 21 |
| December 2025 | 55 |
| November 2025 | 70 |
| October 2025 | 77 |
| September 2025 | 93 |
| August 2025 | 71 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Washington West 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 shoplifting, burglary.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+19%). The largest falls were in other theft (-41%) and public order (-40%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 186 | 16.0 | 0.47 | -36% |
| Shoplifting | 141 | 12.2 | 1.47 | +19% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 121 | 10.4 | 0.68 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 61 | 5.3 | 0.78 | -19% |
| Burglary | 53 | 4.6 | 1.29 | -13% |
| Vehicle crime | 48 | 4.1 | 0.84 | -21% |
| Other theft | 39 | 3.4 | 0.53 | -41% |
| Public order | 38 | 3.3 | 0.49 | -40% |
| Other crime | 29 | 2.5 | 1.18 | +0% |
| Robbery | 13 | 1.1 | 0.83 | +117% |
| Drugs | 7 | 0.6 | 0.18 | -46% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 0.26 | +67% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.42 | +100% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.3 | 0.27 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Washington West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Washington West recorded 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 24.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Washington West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Washington West recorded 141 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 18.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Washington West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Washington West recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 16.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Washington West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Washington West recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Washington West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Washington West recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Washington West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Washington West recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Washington West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Washington West recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Washington West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Washington West recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Washington West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Washington West recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Washington West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Washington West recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 117% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Washington West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Washington West recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 46% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Washington West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Washington West recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Washington West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Washington West recorded 4 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 100% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Washington West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Washington West 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Washington West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Washington West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Washington West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington North | 1,420 | 129.8 | +101% |
| Washington Central | 1,136 | 106.3 | +65% |
| Washington South | 672 | 70.5 | +9% |
| Washington East | 748 | 57.5 | -11% |
| Shiney Row | 804 | 71.4 | +11% |
| Castle | 1,272 | 112.8 | +75% |
| St Anne's | 948 | 90.8 | +41% |
| Redhill | 1,157 | 98.7 | +53% |
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 West over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Moorside | 63 |
| On or near Grousemoor | 40 |
| On or near Elterwater | 37 |
| On or near Albany Way | 35 |
| On or near Cragside Road | 30 |
| On or near Parking Area | 26 |
| On or near Donvale Road | 20 |
| On or near Blencathra | 16 |
| On or near Peareth Hall Road | 16 |
| On or near Stridingedge | 15 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Washington West 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 | 326 | 43.6% |
| Under investigation | 145 | 19.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 138 | 18.4% |
| Not recorded | 121 | 16.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 1.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 0.9% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.1% |
Washington West has an estimated population of 11,589. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Washington West sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Washington West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.4% |
| Social rented homes | 22.2% |
| Private rented homes | 11.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 |
Is Washington West a safe place to live?
Washington West recorded 64.5 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 West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (141).
Is crime in Washington West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Washington West was down 19% on the year before: 748 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 926 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Washington West?
Washington West 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 West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.