Ushaw Moor and Bearpark Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In August 2025, Ushaw Moor and Bearpark recorded a crime rate of 8.4 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 3.7% above the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This rate, while relatively low for a built-up area, reflects a combination of local factors and seasonal influences. The most prevalent crime category was anti-social behaviour, which accounted for 38.5% of all incidents (20 cases), significantly exceeding the UK average of 1.5 per 1,000. This surge aligns with the area’s character as a small built-up zone within County Durham, where transient populations and limited community resources may contribute to persistent disorder. Violence and sexual offences followed at 36.5% (19 cases), a figure 8% above the UK average, potentially influenced by the area’s proximity to popular tourist routes and the influx of visitors during the summer months. The third most common category, criminal damage and arson (7.7% of crimes), also exceeded the UK average by 2%, a pattern consistent with rural areas where unoccupied properties are more vulnerable to vandalism. Seasonal context suggests that the August peak holiday period may have exacerbated anti-social behaviour, though the absence of a major tourist hub in the area complicates this link. Conversely, shoplifting fell sharply to three incidents, 21% below the UK average, reflecting reduced retail activity during the holiday season. These trends underscore the need for targeted policing strategies that balance the demands of a small, rural-adjacent community with the pressures of seasonal fluctuations.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift was in anti-social behaviour, which rose by 25% from 16 to 20 incidents. This category now accounts for 38.5% of all crimes, significantly above the UK average of 1.5 per 1,000 (119% higher). Concurrently, shoplifting fell by 62.5% to three incidents, the lowest recorded in 2025 and 21% below the UK average. The drop in shoplifting may reflect reduced foot traffic during the August holiday period, though local retailers have not reported corresponding declines in sales. Meanwhile, other theft increased by 100% from zero to one incident, a rise that, while statistically significant, remains below the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. The area’s violent crime rate—3.1 per 1,000—remained 8% above the UK average, highlighting persistent challenges in managing public safety during peak tourist months.

August 2025 saw an 18.7% decrease in the area’s crime rate compared to July, falling from 10.3 to 8.4 per 1,000 residents. This marks the first decline in the built-up area’s monthly rate since early 2025.7% above the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately two crimes per day in August—a figure that, while low, reflects the small population of 6,214. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 120 residents, a metric that contextualises the monthly exposure for local households. This rate is comparable to other similarly sized built-up areas in County Durham, where seasonal fluctuations often influence crime trends. The decline appears to align with the start of the autumn term at nearby schools, which may have reduced foot traffic in certain areas and altered patterns of public disorder. However, the persistence of anti-social behaviour at 38.5% of total crimes suggests ongoing challenges in community engagement and policing priorities.