Crime in Newcastle upon Tyne
Recorded crime in Newcastle upon Tyne is 1.3 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 13%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
320,605 residents in 180 neighbourhoods. 2% live in busy town or city centres.
- Safety
- 2/10High crime
- Living
- 7.5/10Good
- 5-year change
- −13%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 13% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Newcastle upon Tyne, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.3× the England and Wales average. 116 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 61% of the harm here
- Burglary: 13% of the harm here
- Robbery: 6% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 61% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 42 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 | 1.2 |
| Burglary | 5.7 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 40.8 |
| Drugs | 3.8 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.2 |
| Other crime | 2.4 |
| Other theft | 11.4 |
| Theft from the person | 2.1 |
| Vehicle crime | 6.6 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 13.7 |
| Public order | 13.2 |
| Bicycle theft | 2.2 |
| Shoplifting | 12.1 |
Towns and cities in Newcastle upon Tyne
Postcode districts in Newcastle upon Tyne
Questions about crime in Newcastle upon Tyne
- Is Newcastle upon Tyne a safe place to live?
- Newcastle upon Tyne scores 2 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Newcastle upon Tyne?
- Down 13% over 5 years, from 37,217 recorded crimes a year to 32,410.
- What is the most common crime in Newcastle upon Tyne?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 41 per 1,000 residents a year.