Crime in Ashington (Northumberland): statistics, rates and trends
3,568 crimes were recorded in Ashington (Northumberland) in the 12 months to July 2026, 118.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 21% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Ashington (Northumberland) at a glance
- Crime trends in Ashington (Northumberland)
- Types of crime in Ashington (Northumberland)
- Ashington (Northumberland) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Ashington (Northumberland)
- Streets with the most crime in Ashington (Northumberland)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ashington (Northumberland)
- Population and deprivation in Ashington (Northumberland)
- Questions about crime in Ashington (Northumberland)
- About this data
3,568 crimes were recorded in Ashington (Northumberland) in the 12 months to July 2026, 118.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 21% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,207 reports (34% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Ashington (Northumberland) has the 189th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Ashington (Northumberland) | Northumberland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 3,568 | 26,302 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 118.6 | 79.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -21% | -13% | -1% |
| Population | 30,082 | 331,420 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Ashington (Northumberland) was highest in the year to July 2018 (5,285 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (3,568). Over the whole period it fell 32%, 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 | 3,568 | 118.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 4,492 | 149.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 5,026 | 167.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 4,947 | 164.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 4,583 | 152.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 4,883 | 162.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 4,463 | 148.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 4,937 | 164.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 5,285 | 175.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 310 |
| June 2026 | 275 |
| May 2026 | 343 |
| April 2026 | 307 |
| March 2026 | 273 |
| February 2026 | 192 |
| January 2026 | 117 |
| December 2025 | 273 |
| November 2025 | 300 |
| October 2025 | 391 |
| September 2025 | 406 |
| August 2025 | 381 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ashington (Northumberland) 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, criminal damage and arson, burglary. The largest falls were in drugs (-50%) and shoplifting (-48%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,207 | 40.1 | 1.17 | -15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 709 | 23.6 | 1.54 | -8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 345 | 11.5 | 1.69 | -19% |
| Shoplifting | 297 | 9.9 | 1.19 | -48% |
| Public order | 248 | 8.2 | 1.24 | -25% |
| Vehicle crime | 165 | 5.5 | 1.11 | +6% |
| Burglary | 153 | 5.1 | 1.44 | -11% |
| Other theft | 146 | 4.9 | 0.76 | -37% |
| Other crime | 131 | 4.4 | 2.06 | -6% |
| Drugs | 62 | 2.1 | 0.63 | -50% |
| Possession of weapons | 36 | 1.2 | 1.23 | -22% |
| Robbery | 30 | 1.0 | 0.74 | -30% |
| Bicycle theft | 23 | 0.8 | 0.93 | -41% |
| Theft from the person | 16 | 0.5 | 0.31 | +7% |
Violence and sexual offences in Ashington (Northumberland)
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 1,207 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 33.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Ashington (Northumberland)
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 709 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 19.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Ashington (Northumberland)
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 345 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Ashington (Northumberland)
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 297 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Ashington (Northumberland)
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 248 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Ashington (Northumberland)
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 165 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Ashington (Northumberland)
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 153 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 down 11% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Ashington (Northumberland)
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 146 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 37% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Ashington (Northumberland)
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Ashington (Northumberland)
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Ashington (Northumberland)
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Ashington (Northumberland)
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Ashington (Northumberland)
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Ashington (Northumberland)
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 16 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 up 7% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Ashington (Northumberland), for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ashington (Northumberland).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ashington (Northumberland) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stakeford | 658 | 88.5 | -25% |
| Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | 668 | 114.2 | -4% |
| Bedlington | 1,608 | 90.0 | -24% |
| Blyth (Northumberland) | 4,976 | 122.1 | +3% |
| Morpeth | 1,369 | 82.8 | -30% |
| Cramlington | 2,710 | 84.9 | -28% |
| Seaton Delaval | 746 | 92.0 | -22% |
| Wideopen | 491 | 47.6 | -60% |
6 areas within Ashington (Northumberland), ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ashington Central had the highest rate (196.9 per 1,000) and Seaton with Spital the lowest (49.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashington Central | Neighbourhood | 3,906 | 769 | 196.9 |
| Hirst | Neighbourhood | 6,960 | 1,085 | 155.9 |
| College with North Seaton | Neighbourhood | 6,262 | 862 | 137.7 |
| Haydon | Neighbourhood | 4,205 | 310 | 73.7 |
| Bothal | Neighbourhood | 5,045 | 359 | 71.2 |
| Seaton with Spital | Neighbourhood | 3,704 | 183 | 49.4 |
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 Ashington (Northumberland) over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 330 |
| On or near Ashington Bus Station | 140 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 106 |
| On or near Supermarket | 97 |
| On or near Castle Terrace | 95 |
| On or near Hedley Way | 87 |
| On or near Sixth Avenue | 77 |
| On or near Fifth Avenue | 75 |
| On or near First Avenue | 69 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 65 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ashington (Northumberland) 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 | 1,040 | 29.1% |
| Under investigation | 825 | 23.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 805 | 22.6% |
| Not recorded | 709 | 19.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 104 | 2.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 28 | 0.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 24 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 18 | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 0.4% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% |
Ashington (Northumberland) has an estimated population of 30,082. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ashington (Northumberland) sits in decile 4.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Ashington (Northumberland) |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.8% |
| Private rented homes | 21.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 45.7% |
Is Ashington (Northumberland) a safe place to live?
Ashington (Northumberland) recorded 118.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Ashington (Northumberland)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,207 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (709).
Is crime in Ashington (Northumberland) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ashington (Northumberland) was down 21% on the year before: 3,568 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 4,492 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Ashington (Northumberland)?
Ashington (Northumberland) 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 Ashington (Northumberland). Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.