Crime in North East: statistics, rates and trends

319,718 crimes were recorded in North East in the 12 months to July 2026, 115.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 101,266 reports (32% of the total).

Of the 9 regions covered by this site, North East has the 2nd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in North East was highest in the year to July 2018 (401,121 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (319,718). Over the whole period it fell 20%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in North East 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 anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in robbery (+44%) and other crime (+17%). The largest falls were in drugs (-24%) and bicycle theft (-14%).

Violence and sexual offences in North East

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. North East recorded 101,266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 31.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in North East

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. North East recorded 59,571 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 18.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in North East

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. North East recorded 37,600 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 11.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in North East

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. North East recorded 31,561 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in North East

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. North East recorded 21,533 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in North East

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. North East recorded 15,533 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in North East

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. North East recorded 12,983 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in North East

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. North East recorded 12,310 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in North East

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. North East recorded 10,505 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in North East

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. North East recorded 7,197 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in North East

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. North East recorded 3,933 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in North East

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. North East recorded 2,574 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in North East

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. North East recorded 1,576 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in North East

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. North East recorded 1,576 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the regions closest to North East, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to North East.

12 areas within North East, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Middlesbrough had the highest rate (186.8 per 1,000) and Northumberland the lowest (79.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in North East 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.

North East has an estimated population of 2,760,678. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in North East sits in decile 4.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 North East. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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