Crime in Sunderland: statistics, rates and trends

19,393 crimes were recorded in Sunderland 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 15% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 6,124 reports (32% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Sunderland has the 259th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Sunderland was highest in the year to July 2018 (30,638 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (19,393). Over the whole period it fell 37%, 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 Sunderland 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 robbery (+39%). The largest falls were in drugs (-41%) and other theft (-29%).

Violence and sexual offences in Sunderland

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sunderland recorded 6,124 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 31.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Sunderland

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sunderland recorded 3,208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 16.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Sunderland

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sunderland recorded 2,439 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 12.6% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Sunderland

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sunderland recorded 1,929 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Sunderland

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sunderland recorded 1,398 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Sunderland

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sunderland recorded 906 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Sunderland

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sunderland recorded 863 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Sunderland

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sunderland recorded 730 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 25% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Sunderland

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sunderland recorded 702 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Sunderland

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sunderland recorded 409 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 41% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Sunderland

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sunderland recorded 314 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Sunderland

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sunderland recorded 168 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Sunderland

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sunderland recorded 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Sunderland

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sunderland recorded 90 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

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

16 areas within Sunderland, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Hendon had the highest rate (294.8 per 1,000) and Barnes the lowest (54.6). 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 Sunderland over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sunderland 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.

Sunderland has an estimated population of 175,730. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sunderland sits in decile 3.3, more deprived than average. 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 Sunderland. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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