Crap Towns / Durham / Crime

How much crime is there in Durham?

The police recorded 103 crimes per 1,000 people a year in Durham from September 2023 to August 2026, 35% higher than the typical town's 76.2. The most common was violence and sexual offences, at 39.0. In the 12 months to August 2026 it was 104, down from 105 in the 12 months to August 2024.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
September 2023 to August 2024	105	78.6
September 2024 to August 2025	100.0	77.4
September 2025 to August 2026	104	73.7

**By type**
Crime	Here	Typical town
Violence and sexual offences	39.0	34.1
Shoplifting	20.9	7.1
Public order	10.4	6.6
Criminal damage and arson	9.4	7.0
Other theft	6.6	5.4
Burglary	4.8	3.1
Drugs	3.1	2.4
Other crime	3.0	2.0
Vehicle crime	2.5	3.8
Bicycle theft	1.2	0.5
Possession of weapons	1.0	0.8
Robbery	0.7	0.6
Theft from the person	0.6	0.4

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Crimes per 1,000 people a year
Spennymoor	8.7 km	110
Durham	–	103
Houghton-le-Spring	8.9 km	93.9
Sacriston	5.3 km	91.3
Chester-le-Street	8.1 km	90.9
Ushaw Moor and Bearpark	4.1 km	85.6
Brandon	4.6 km	81.5
Hetton-le-Hole	8.5 km	81.0
Pelton and Ouston	10.7 km	67.0
Fence Houses	8.2 km	65.3
Shiney Row and Penshaw	10.8 km	53.9
The typical town	–	76.2