Crime in Pelton and Ouston: statistics, rates and trends
586 crimes were recorded in Pelton and Ouston in the 12 months to August 2026, 95.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Pelton and Ouston at a glance
- Crime trends in Pelton and Ouston
- Types of crime in Pelton and Ouston
- Pelton and Ouston compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Pelton and Ouston
- Streets with the most crime in Pelton and Ouston
- What happened after crimes were reported in Pelton and Ouston
- Demographics of Pelton and Ouston
- Questions about crime in Pelton and Ouston
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (205), anti-social behaviour (137) and criminal damage and arson (116) made up 78% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 402nd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Pelton and Ouston | County Durham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 586 | 64,837 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 95.9 | 120.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 6,111 | 538,011 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Pelton and Ouston peaked in the year to August 2020 (717 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (509). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 12%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 586 | 95.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 574 | 93.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 559 | 91.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 576 | 94.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 509 | 83.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 545 | 89.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 717 | 117.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 581 | 95.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 666 | 109.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57 |
| July 2026 | 61 |
| June 2026 | 44 |
| May 2026 | 53 |
| April 2026 | 41 |
| March 2026 | 62 |
| February 2026 | 83 |
| January 2026 | 41 |
| December 2025 | 37 |
| November 2025 | 30 |
| October 2025 | 44 |
| September 2025 | 33 |
Compared with England and Wales, Pelton and Ouston recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (2.8 times the national rate), other crime (70% above the national rate) and anti-social behaviour (46% above the national rate), and notably less other theft (47% below). On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 76 to 116 and public order rose from 27 to 33, while anti-social behaviour fell from 165 to 137 and other crime fell from 26 to 22.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 205 | 33.5 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 137 | 22.4 | 15.4 | -17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 116 | 19.0 | 6.7 | +53% |
| Public order | 33 | 5.4 | 6.7 | +22% |
| Other crime | 22 | 3.6 | 2.1 | -15% |
| Other theft | 21 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 0% |
| Burglary | 13 | 2.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 10 | 1.6 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 1.6 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 7 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Pelton and Ouston; the highest is Stanley (County Durham) (160.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Shiney Row and Penshaw (60.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Pelton and Ouston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birtley | 1,151 | 77.7 | -19% |
| Chester-le-Street | 2,713 | 112.2 | +17% |
| Washington | 4,434 | 84.5 | -12% |
| Stanley (County Durham) | 3,177 | 160.9 | +68% |
| Sacriston | 600 | 113.4 | +18% |
| Shiney Row and Penshaw | 1,094 | 60.1 | -37% |
| Gateshead | 12,182 | 105.0 | +10% |
| Fence Houses | 366 | 60.2 | -37% |
Pelton is the one area listed within Pelton and Ouston, with 79.2 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelton | Neighbourhood | 15,579 | 1,234 | 79.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 47% of the crime recorded in Pelton and Ouston over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hylton Terrace” (44).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hylton Terrace | 44 |
| On or near Parking Area | 37 |
| On or near Orchard Street | 30 |
| On or near Vicarage Close | 27 |
| On or near Ascot Place | 25 |
| On or near Brecon Place | 25 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 24 |
| On or near Ivyway | 23 |
| On or near Gairloch Drive | 22 |
| On or near Ernest Street | 21 |
Of the 449 crimes in Pelton and Ouston with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 137 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 191 | 42.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 145 | 32.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 44 | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 5.6% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 3.3% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.7% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.4% | 3.1% |
Pelton and Ouston has an estimated population of 6,111 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (25%, against 17%), less private renting (12%, against 20%) and fewer students (5.3%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Pelton and Ouston average decile 4.2 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Pelton and Ouston | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 24.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 25.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Pelton and Ouston a safe place to live?
Pelton and Ouston recorded 95.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 402nd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson and other crime.
What is the most common crime in Pelton and Ouston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 205 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (137).
Is crime in Pelton and Ouston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Pelton and Ouston was up 2% on the year before: 586 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 574 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Pelton and Ouston?
About 6,111 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Pelton and Ouston?
Pelton and Ouston 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.