Durham Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Durham, there were 7 crimes reported in January 2024, placing the area 5.4% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This overall rate reflects a mixed crime profile, with violence and sexual offences (36.8% of all crimes) and shoplifting (16.7%) as the most prevalent categories. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days—may contribute to the lower overall crime rate. Violence and sexual offences, at 2.6 per 1,000, align precisely with the UK average, suggesting no significant deviation in this category. Shoplifting, however, stands out as 111% above the UK average, likely driven by the presence of high-traffic retail areas in the built-up part of the county. Anti-social behaviour also rose slightly, with 61 incidents recorded, 1% above the UK average. This suggests that while overall crime remains below the national benchmark, certain localised factors—such as the density of retail spaces or the characteristics of the built-up area—may amplify specific crime types. The data also highlights a notable disparity between property crimes and violent crimes, with the former making up 39.3% of the total (170 incidents) and the latter 36.8% (161 incidents), indicating a near-even split between property-related and violent offences. This balance may reflect the area’s urban character, where both commercial activity and residential populations coexist, creating conditions for a range of crime types. The seasonal dip in outdoor activity and the end of the festive period may have tempered some crime trends, but the persistence of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour underscores ongoing challenges in managing public spaces.

January 2024 saw a striking 450% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 2 to 11 incidents. This surge, which places Durham’s rate at 0.2 per 1,000 residents—233% above the UK average—suggests a potential link to colder weather prompting increased indoor activity. Meanwhile, theft from the person rose by 300%, climbing from 1 to 4 cases, a sharp uptick that may reflect changes in public behaviour during the post-holiday period. Conversely, several categories showed declines: vehicle crime fell by 66.7%, drugs-related offences dropped by 71.4%, and burglary decreased by 53.5%. These reductions, particularly in vehicle crime, could be influenced by reduced outdoor activity and shorter daylight hours. Shoplifting remained significantly above the UK average, with a rate of 1.2 per 1,000 residents—111% higher than the national figure—indicating a persistent challenge in retail areas.

In January 2024, Durham’s crime rate fell to 7.0 per 1,000 residents, a 4.4% drop from the previous month’s 7.3 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the seasonal context of January, a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail footfall, which may partly explain lower outdoor crime rates. On a daily basis, Durham recorded an average of 14 crimes per day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 143 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is a useful metric for residents to contextualise risk, showing that while crime is present, it remains relatively infrequent in a given individual’s experience. Compared to the UK average, Durham’s overall rate remains 5.4% below, suggesting a consistent trend of lower-than-average crime levels in the area. The reduction in vehicle crime by 66.7% and drugs-related offences by 71.4% further supports this pattern, possibly reflecting seasonal shifts in activity and enforcement priorities.