Durham Crime Rate

Durham currently maintains an overall crime rate of 96.9 per 1,000 people, which is slightly higher than the UK average of 91.7. Despite this, the city achieves a safety score of 79/100, exactly matching the UK average and indicating a stable, secure environment for residents and visitors alike. The recent trend direction for Durham is stable, with a modest 2.7% decrease in total crimes year-over-year. This data, covering the period from December 2024 to November 2025, reflects a city that effectively manages its urban safety challenges. While property crime is a consideration at 34.5 per 1,000 people, the overall statistics paint a picture of a safe historic city. The following sections provide detailed insights into crime patterns, time-based trends, and practical safety recommendations.

In Durham, the crime breakdown is led by violence and sexual offences (32.5%), anti-social behaviour (17.5%), and shoplifting (16.7%). These three categories represent the most frequent challenges for local law enforcement. Property crime overall is a significant factor, with a rate of 34.5 per 1,000 people. This includes burglary (3.7 per 1,000), vehicle crime (1.8 per 1,000), and other theft (4.4 per 1,000), alongside criminal damage and arson. For residents, the high rate of shoplifting is particularly notable, often concentrated in the city’s historic retail core. While burglary and vehicle crime rates are relatively low compared to the UK average, the overall property crime figure suggests that opportunistic theft remains a risk. Homeowners and local businesses should focus on visible deterrents and boundary security to mitigate these risks, especially given the transient nature of the city's large student and tourist populations.

Crime in Durham is currently stable, with a year-over-year decrease of 2.7%. Monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows a relatively consistent safety environment with some seasonal fluctuations. The period began with a low of 6.6 crimes per 1,000 in December 2024 and February 2025. Rates gradually increased through the spring and summer, reaching a high of 10.2 in October 2025 before settling at 9.3 in November. This pattern suggests that crime is well-managed, with no significant upward spikes. For residents, the overall downward trend is a positive sign that long-term safety is improving. The stability of the monthly figures indicates that Durham remains a predictable and secure environment, with current policing strategies effectively maintaining order across the city throughout the year.

How To Keep Safe in Durham

The most common crime in Durham is violence and sexual offences, accounting for 32.5% of all reported incidents. While the city is generally safe, following these localized tips can help you stay secure:

1. City Centre Awareness: When enjoying Durham's historic centre or nightlife, stay in well-lit areas and keep with your group. Be particularly mindful around the riverside paths after dark.
2. Student Safety: With a large student population, it's important to keep ground-floor windows locked and laptops out of sight, as opportunistic theft can occur in high-density housing areas.
3. Retail Security: When shopping in the city centre, be aware of your personal belongings. High shoplifting rates (16.7%) often correlate with busy areas where pickpockets may also operate.
4. Secure Your Vehicle: Although vehicle crime is low (1.9%), always use designated, well-lit car parks when visiting the city to maintain this low risk level.
5. Proactive Home Security: Given that 28% of burglaries occur at night, ensure your home has active perimeter lighting and a security system that alerts you to boundary breaches.

Durham's crime patterns show distinct variations throughout the day. Morning and afternoon periods are heavily influenced by theft and shoplifting (both at 42%), reflecting the city's busy retail and commercial activity during business hours. As the day transitions into the evening, 'other' crimes, which include public order and anti-social behaviour, become the dominant category at 52%. Night-time (12am-6am) sees a notable shift toward property-related offences, with burglary reaching its peak at 28% and vehicle crime at 22%. This suggests that while the daytime is safe for individuals, the risk to unattended property and vehicles increases significantly overnight. Understanding these cycles allows residents to be more vigilant during high-risk periods for specific crime types.

In the local context, Durham's crime rate of 96.9 per 1,000 people places it in a moderate position compared to its immediate neighbours. It is significantly safer than Nettlesworth and Kimblesworth (118.0) and Ushaw Moor and Bearpark (107.2). However, it reports higher crime levels than the more residential areas of Sherburn (71.1) and the notably quiet High Shincliffe (43.6). As the primary urban and commercial hub of the area, Durham naturally attracts more footfall and activity, which is reflected in these figures. For those looking to live in the region, Durham offers a balance between urban convenience and a safety profile that is respectable for a city of its size and importance.

With a property crime rate of 34.5 per 1,000 people in Durham, ensuring your home is a 'hard target' is essential. Traditional security systems are fundamentally reactive; they provide you with footage of a burglary after the intruder has already entered your home. To truly protect your property, you need to move toward proactive prevention. scOS represents this shift, using AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundaries 24/7. It doesn't just record; it detects threats at the perimeter and can trigger autonomous responses—such as activating floodlights or playing audible warnings—to deter criminals before they attempt a break-in. In a city like Durham, where burglary peaks are seen both in the afternoon and late at night, having a system that recognizes your family's routines and only alerts you to real threats is invaluable. Visible, professional-grade security like scOS signals to opportunistic thieves that your home is monitored by advanced technology, making them much more likely to move on to an easier target.