Crime in Houghton-le-Spring: statistics, rates and trends
1,140 crimes were recorded in Houghton-le-Spring in the 12 months to July 2026, 98.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Houghton-le-Spring at a glance
- Crime trends in Houghton-le-Spring
- Types of crime in Houghton-le-Spring
- Houghton-le-Spring compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Houghton-le-Spring
- Streets with the most crime in Houghton-le-Spring
- What happened after crimes were reported in Houghton-le-Spring
- Population and deprivation in Houghton-le-Spring
- Questions about crime in Houghton-le-Spring
- About this data
1,140 crimes were recorded in Houghton-le-Spring in the 12 months to July 2026, 98.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 309 reports (27% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Houghton-le-Spring has the 378th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Houghton-le-Spring | Sunderland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,140 | 28,651 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 98.2 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -15% | -15% | -1% |
| Population | 11,608 | 288,606 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Houghton-le-Spring was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,767 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,140). Over the whole period it fell 35%, 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 | 1,140 | 98.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,336 | 115.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,351 | 116.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,394 | 120.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,391 | 119.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,606 | 138.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,739 | 149.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,656 | 142.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,767 | 152.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 95 |
| June 2026 | 109 |
| May 2026 | 92 |
| April 2026 | 129 |
| March 2026 | 79 |
| February 2026 | 69 |
| January 2026 | 31 |
| December 2025 | 97 |
| November 2025 | 108 |
| October 2025 | 113 |
| September 2025 | 116 |
| August 2025 | 102 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Houghton-le-Spring 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 shoplifting, criminal damage and arson, burglary.
The largest increases were in burglary (+14%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-31%) and violence and sexual offences (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 309 | 26.6 | 0.78 | -24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 215 | 18.5 | 1.21 | -11% |
| Shoplifting | 146 | 12.6 | 1.52 | -2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 104 | 9.0 | 1.32 | -31% |
| Burglary | 88 | 7.6 | 2.14 | +14% |
| Public order | 83 | 7.2 | 1.08 | -14% |
| Other theft | 49 | 4.2 | 0.66 | -8% |
| Vehicle crime | 49 | 4.2 | 0.86 | -22% |
| Other crime | 42 | 3.6 | 1.71 | +0% |
| Drugs | 27 | 2.3 | 0.71 | -13% |
| Robbery | 12 | 1.0 | 0.77 | +71% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.8 | 0.80 | +12% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 0.25 | +150% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.21 | -67% |
Violence and sexual offences in Houghton-le-Spring
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 309 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 27.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Houghton-le-Spring
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 215 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 18.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Houghton-le-Spring
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 12.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Houghton-le-Spring
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Houghton-le-Spring
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Houghton-le-Spring
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Houghton-le-Spring
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Houghton-le-Spring
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Houghton-le-Spring
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Houghton-le-Spring
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Houghton-le-Spring
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 12 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 up 71% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Houghton-le-Spring
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Houghton-le-Spring
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Houghton-le-Spring
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Houghton-le-Spring recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Houghton-le-Spring, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Houghton-le-Spring.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Houghton-le-Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence Houses | 360 | 59.2 | -40% |
| Hetton-le-Hole | 839 | 85.8 | -13% |
| Shiney Row and Penshaw | 1,101 | 60.4 | -38% |
| Murton (County Durham) | 1,485 | 186.7 | +90% |
| Chester-le-Street | 2,669 | 110.4 | +12% |
| Washington | 4,567 | 87.0 | -11% |
| Sunderland | 19,393 | 110.4 | +12% |
| Seaham | 2,825 | 124.8 | +27% |
1 areas within Houghton-le-Spring, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Copt Hill had the highest rate (71.2 per 1,000) and Copt Hill the lowest (71.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copt Hill | Neighbourhood | 12,688 | 903 | 71.2 |
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 Houghton-le-Spring over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near The Broadway | 111 |
| On or near Sunrise Lane | 82 |
| On or near Wheler Street | 64 |
| On or near Parking Area | 53 |
| On or near Edlingham Court | 36 |
| On or near Burn Promenade | 32 |
| On or near Milton Avenue | 28 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 22 |
| On or near Burdon Avenue | 19 |
| On or near Seaton Avenue | 18 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Houghton-le-Spring 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 | 398 | 34.9% |
| Under investigation | 230 | 20.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 229 | 20.1% |
| Not recorded | 215 | 18.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 40 | 3.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 1.1% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.4% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 4 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Houghton-le-Spring has an estimated population of 11,608. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Houghton-le-Spring sits in decile 4.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Houghton-le-Spring |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.9% |
| Social rented homes | 26.2% |
| Private rented homes | 11.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 13.6% |
Is Houghton-le-Spring a safe place to live?
Houghton-le-Spring recorded 98.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Houghton-le-Spring?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 309 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (215).
Is crime in Houghton-le-Spring going up or down?
Recorded crime in Houghton-le-Spring was down 15% on the year before: 1,140 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,336 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Houghton-le-Spring?
Houghton-le-Spring 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 Houghton-le-Spring. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.