Crime in Whickham South and Sunniside: statistics, rates and trends
379 crimes were recorded in Whickham South and Sunniside in the 12 months to August 2026, 38.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Whickham South and Sunniside at a glance
- Crime trends in Whickham South and Sunniside
- Types of crime in Whickham South and Sunniside
- Whickham South and Sunniside compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Whickham South and Sunniside
- What happened after crimes were reported in Whickham South and Sunniside
- Demographics of Whickham South and Sunniside
- Questions about crime in Whickham South and Sunniside
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (99), anti-social behaviour (63) and shoplifting (38) made up 53% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,491st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Whickham South and Sunniside | Gateshead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 379 | 19,271 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 38.5 | 95.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -15% | -15% | -1% |
| Population | 9,837 | 202,760 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Whickham South and Sunniside of any year here (379 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 25%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 379 | 38.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 448 | 45.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 549 | 55.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 525 | 53.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 521 | 53.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 546 | 55.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 498 | 50.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 550 | 55.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 508 | 51.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 24 |
| July 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 34 |
| April 2026 | 28 |
| March 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 26 |
| November 2025 | 48 |
| October 2025 | 63 |
| September 2025 | 45 |
Compared with England and Wales, Whickham South and Sunniside recorded notably more other crime (30% above the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (71% below) and other theft (68% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 31 to 38, while anti-social behaviour fell from 127 to 63 and violence and sexual offences fell from 144 to 99.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 99 | 10.1 | 34.2 | -31% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 63 | 6.4 | 15.4 | -50% |
| Shoplifting | 38 | 3.9 | 8.5 | +23% |
| Burglary | 35 | 3.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 35 | 3.6 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Public order | 31 | 3.2 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Other crime | 27 | 2.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 21 | 2.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other theft | 20 | 2.0 | 6.4 | -9% |
| Drugs | 7 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Whickham South and Sunniside; the highest is Whickham North (192.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Dunston Hill and Whickham East (36.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Whickham South and Sunniside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whickham North | 1,130 | 192.5 | +400% |
| Dunston Hill and Whickham East | 317 | 36.0 | -7% |
| Blaydon | 1,181 | 109.6 | +184% |
| Dunston and Teams | 1,047 | 111.4 | +189% |
| Lobley Hill and Bensham | 729 | 88.1 | +129% |
| Winlaton and High Spen | 393 | 48.2 | +25% |
| Saltwell | 826 | 68.0 | +77% |
| Low Fell | 434 | 45.1 | +17% |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Whickham South and Sunniside over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Gateshead Road” (41).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Gateshead Road | 41 |
| On or near Supermarket | 28 |
| On or near Farm Close | 22 |
| On or near Prinn Place | 19 |
| On or near Neill Drive | 11 |
| On or near Hillhead Lane | 7 |
| On or near Queens Drive | 7 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 7 |
| On or near Catton Grove | 6 |
| On or near Cuthbert Street | 6 |
Of the 316 crimes in Whickham South and Sunniside with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 0.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 63 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 128 | 40.5% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 95 | 30.1% | 4.7% |
| Under investigation | 65 | 20.6% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 22 | 7.0% | 2.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 3 | 0.9% | 34.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 0.6% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Whickham South and Sunniside has an estimated population of 9,837 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more retired residents (36%, against 22%), less social housing (6.4%, against 17.1%) and an older population (30%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Whickham South and Sunniside average decile 8.3 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Whickham South and Sunniside | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 36.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 83.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 9.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Whickham South and Sunniside a safe place to live?
Whickham South and Sunniside recorded 38.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,491st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime.
What is the most common crime in Whickham South and Sunniside?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 99 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (63).
Is crime in Whickham South and Sunniside going up or down?
Recorded crime in Whickham South and Sunniside was down 15% on the year before: 379 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 448 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Whickham South and Sunniside?
About 9,837 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 30% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Whickham South and Sunniside?
Whickham South and Sunniside is policed by Northumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.