Crime in Durham: statistics, rates and trends
6,305 crimes were recorded in Durham in the 12 months to August 2026, 127.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,895), anti-social behaviour (1,142) and shoplifting (1,120) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 136th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Durham | County Durham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 6,305 | 64,837 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 127.7 | 120.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 49,373 | 538,011 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Durham peaked in the year to August 2023 (6,470 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (5,087). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 3%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 6,305 | 127.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 5,935 | 120.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 6,136 | 124.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 6,470 | 131.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 6,213 | 125.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 5,087 | 103.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 5,484 | 111.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 6,175 | 125.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 6,151 | 124.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 499 |
| July 2026 | 521 |
| June 2026 | 485 |
| May 2026 | 530 |
| April 2026 | 524 |
| March 2026 | 519 |
| February 2026 | 522 |
| January 2026 | 439 |
| December 2025 | 514 |
| November 2025 | 581 |
| October 2025 | 638 |
| September 2025 | 533 |
Compared with England and Wales, Durham recorded notably more shoplifting (2.7 times the national rate), public order (67% above the national rate) and other crime (57% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (64% below) and vehicle crime (37% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 103 to 155 and robbery rose from 36 to 49, while bicycle theft fell from 58 to 39.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,895 | 38.4 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,142 | 23.1 | 15.4 | +18% |
| Shoplifting | 1,120 | 22.7 | 8.5 | +15% |
| Public order | 549 | 11.1 | 6.7 | +6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 435 | 8.8 | 6.7 | +5% |
| Other theft | 328 | 6.6 | 6.4 | +11% |
| Burglary | 222 | 4.5 | 3.6 | +6% |
| Other crime | 164 | 3.3 | 2.1 | +11% |
| Vehicle crime | 155 | 3.1 | 5.0 | +50% |
| Drugs | 133 | 2.7 | 3.3 | -12% |
| Robbery | 49 | 1.0 | 1.4 | +36% |
| Possession of weapons | 44 | 0.9 | 1.0 | -14% |
| Bicycle theft | 39 | 0.8 | 0.8 | -33% |
| Theft from the person | 30 | 0.6 | 1.7 | -12% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ushaw Moor and Bearpark | 755 | 117.1 | -8% |
| Brandon (County Durham) | 1,047 | 113.8 | -11% |
| Sacriston | 600 | 113.4 | -11% |
| Bowburn | 636 | 110.2 | -14% |
| Fence Houses | 366 | 60.2 | -53% |
| Chester-le-Street | 2,713 | 112.2 | -12% |
| Hetton-le-Hole | 822 | 84.1 | -34% |
| Houghton-le-Spring | 1,135 | 97.8 | -23% |
Of the 4 areas within Durham, Elvet, Gilesgate & Shincliffe had the highest crime rate (168.8 per 1,000) and Framwellgate & Newton Hall the lowest (74.9).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elvet, Gilesgate & Shincliffe | Neighbourhood | 18,451 | 3,114 | 168.8 |
| Belmont | Neighbourhood | 10,981 | 1,274 | 116.0 |
| Neville's Cross | Neighbourhood | 11,215 | 1,019 | 90.9 |
| Framwellgate & Newton Hall | Neighbourhood | 14,174 | 1,061 | 74.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 40% of the crime recorded in Durham over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (403).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 403 |
| On or near Nightclub | 329 |
| On or near Back Wynyard Grove | 322 |
| On or near Station Bank | 305 |
| On or near Hospital | 250 |
| On or near Prison | 234 |
| On or near Abbeywoods | 180 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 180 |
| On or near Market Place | 171 |
| On or near Front Street | 143 |
Of the 5,163 crimes in Durham with a recorded outcome, 37% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 10% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 1,142 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,934 | 37.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,468 | 28.4% | 34.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 523 | 10.1% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 454 | 8.8% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 262 | 5.1% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 168 | 3.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 94 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 72 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 63 | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 41 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 37 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 34 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
Durham has an estimated population of 49,373 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (35.1%, against 7.9%), fewer children (11%, against 18%) and fewer residents with no qualifications (11%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Durham average decile 7.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Durham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 38.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 20.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 35.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 11.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 26.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 23.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.5 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 3.4% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Durham a safe place to live?
Durham recorded 127.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 136th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and public order.
What is the most common crime in Durham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,895 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (1,142).
Is crime in Durham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Durham was up 6% on the year before: 6,305 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 5,935 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Durham?
About 49,373 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 18% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Durham?
Durham is policed by Durham.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.