Crime in Chester-le-Street: statistics, rates and trends

2,669 crimes were recorded in Chester-le-Street in the 12 months to July 2026, 110.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 844 reports (32% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Chester-le-Street has the 257th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Chester-le-Street was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,971 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (2,359). Over the whole period it rose 0%, 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 Chester-le-Street 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 criminal damage and arson (+24%) and drugs (+23%). The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-26%) and shoplifting (-19%).

Violence and sexual offences in Chester-le-Street

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Chester-le-Street recorded 844 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 31.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Chester-le-Street

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Chester-le-Street recorded 481 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 18.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Chester-le-Street

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Chester-le-Street recorded 371 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 13.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Chester-le-Street

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Chester-le-Street recorded 338 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 12.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Chester-le-Street

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Chester-le-Street recorded 172 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Chester-le-Street

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Chester-le-Street recorded 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Chester-le-Street

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Chester-le-Street recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Chester-le-Street

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Chester-le-Street recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Chester-le-Street

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Chester-le-Street recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Chester-le-Street

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Chester-le-Street recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Chester-le-Street

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Chester-le-Street recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 120% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Chester-le-Street

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Chester-le-Street recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Chester-le-Street

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Chester-le-Street recorded 6 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 down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Chester-le-Street

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Chester-le-Street recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Chester-le-Street, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Chester-le-Street.

3 areas within Chester-le-Street, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Chester-le-Street North had the highest rate (178.5 per 1,000) and Chester-le-Street South the lowest (62.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Chester-le-Street over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Chester-le-Street 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.

Chester-le-Street has an estimated population of 24,176. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Chester-le-Street sits in decile 6.3, 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 Chester-le-Street. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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