Crime in Houghton-le-Spring: statistics, rates and trends
1,135 crimes were recorded in Houghton-le-Spring in the 12 months to August 2026, 97.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Houghton-le-Spring
- Questions about crime in Houghton-le-Spring
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (299), anti-social behaviour (231) and shoplifting (146) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 382nd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Houghton-le-Spring | Sunderland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,135 | 28,197 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 97.8 | 97.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -15% | -15% | -1% |
| Population | 11,608 | 288,606 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Houghton-le-Spring of any year here (1,135 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 37%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,135 | 97.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,336 | 115.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,335 | 115.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,397 | 120.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,355 | 116.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,593 | 137.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,783 | 153.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,611 | 138.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,800 | 155.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 97 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Houghton-le-Spring recorded notably more burglary (2.0 times the national rate), other crime (67% above the national rate) and shoplifting (49% above the national rate), and notably less other theft (40% below) and drugs (34% below). On the year before, vehicle crime fell from 71 to 49 and criminal damage and arson fell from 152 to 107.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 299 | 25.8 | 34.2 | -26% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 231 | 19.9 | 15.4 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 146 | 12.6 | 8.5 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 107 | 9.2 | 6.7 | -30% |
| Burglary | 84 | 7.2 | 3.6 | +4% |
| Public order | 77 | 6.6 | 6.7 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 49 | 4.2 | 5.0 | -31% |
| Other theft | 45 | 3.9 | 6.4 | -15% |
| Other crime | 41 | 3.5 | 2.1 | -13% |
| Drugs | 25 | 2.2 | 3.3 | -24% |
| Robbery | 13 | 1.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.6 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Houghton-le-Spring; the highest is Murton (County Durham) (188.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Shiney Row and Penshaw (60.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Houghton-le-Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence Houses | 366 | 60.2 | -38% |
| Hetton-le-Hole | 822 | 84.1 | -14% |
| Shiney Row and Penshaw | 1,094 | 60.1 | -39% |
| Murton (County Durham) | 1,495 | 188.0 | +92% |
| Chester-le-Street | 2,713 | 112.2 | +15% |
| Washington | 4,434 | 84.5 | -14% |
| Sunderland | 19,136 | 108.9 | +11% |
| Seaham | 2,840 | 125.5 | +28% |
Copt Hill is the one area listed within Houghton-le-Spring, with 71.4 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copt Hill | Neighbourhood | 12,688 | 906 | 71.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Houghton-le-Spring over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “The Broadway” (117).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near The Broadway | 117 |
| On or near Sunrise Lane | 80 |
| On or near Wheler Street | 58 |
| On or near Parking Area | 57 |
| On or near Burn Promenade | 34 |
| On or near Edlingham Court | 34 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 29 |
| On or near Milton Avenue | 26 |
| On or near Waller Terrace | 21 |
| On or near Burdon Avenue | 20 |
Of the 904 crimes in Houghton-le-Spring with a recorded outcome, 44% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 0.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 231 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 397 | 43.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 227 | 25.1% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 219 | 24.2% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 38 | 4.2% | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 0.9% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 4 | 0.4% | 34.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Houghton-le-Spring has an estimated population of 11,608 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (26%, against 17%), less private renting (12%, against 20%) and fewer students (4.9%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Houghton-le-Spring average decile 4.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Houghton-le-Spring | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 27.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 26.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 13.6% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Houghton-le-Spring a safe place to live?
Houghton-le-Spring recorded 97.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 382nd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were burglary and other crime.
What is the most common crime in Houghton-le-Spring?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 299 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (231).
Is crime in Houghton-le-Spring going up or down?
Recorded crime in Houghton-le-Spring was down 15% on the year before: 1,135 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,336 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Houghton-le-Spring?
About 11,608 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Houghton-le-Spring?
Houghton-le-Spring is policed by Northumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.