MiddlesbroughCouncil area
Crime in Middlesbrough
Recorded crime in Middlesbrough is 1.8 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 10%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
156,161 residents in 90 neighbourhoods. 2% live in busy town or city centres.
- Safety
- 1/10High crime
- Living
- 7.5/10Good
- 5-year change
- −10%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 10% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Middlesbrough, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.8× the England and Wales average. 149 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 59% of the harm here
- Burglary: 16% of the harm here
- Robbery: 8% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 52 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 2.2 |
| Burglary | 9.7 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 56.0 |
| Drugs | 5.5 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.3 |
| Other crime | 4.0 |
| Other theft | 10.8 |
| Theft from the person | 1.2 |
| Vehicle crime | 8.8 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 20.7 |
| Public order | 13.6 |
| Bicycle theft | 1.8 |
| Shoplifting | 13.4 |
Towns and cities in Middlesbrough
Postcode districts in Middlesbrough
Questions about crime in Middlesbrough
- Is Middlesbrough a safe place to live?
- Middlesbrough scores 1 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Middlesbrough?
- Down 10% over 5 years, from 27,499 recorded crimes a year to 24,657.
- What is the most common crime in Middlesbrough?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 56 per 1,000 residents a year.