Wingate Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Wingate's overall crime rate in August 2024 stood at 7.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 7.3% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This position as a relatively safe area is tempered by significant outliers in specific crime categories. Violence and sexual offences, at 3.3 per 1,000 residents, constituted 43.9% of all reported crimes—23% above the UK average for this category. This stark divergence from national trends suggests a unique dynamic in Wingate, where interpersonal violence remains a notable concern despite the area's generally low crime profile. Criminal damage and arson, at 1.5 per 1,000 residents, was 142% above the UK average, highlighting a persistent challenge in addressing property-related offences. These figures contrast with anti-social behaviour, which was 58% below the UK average at 0.6 per 1,000 residents, a figure that may reflect the seasonal absence of transient populations during the summer months. The breakdown reveals a combination of local factors and broader patterns: while Wingate's built-up nature may contribute to higher rates of property crime compared to rural areas, its relatively low population density appears to mitigate overall crime levels. Seasonal context further shapes this picture—August, as a peak holiday month, likely influences both the rise in vehicle crime and the decline in anti-social behaviour, as tourism and seasonal migration patterns shift the local demographic landscape. These dynamics underscore the importance of contextualising crime statistics within both local and national frameworks, rather than viewing them as isolated figures.

August 2024 saw a dramatic shift in Wingate's crime profile, with burglary, shoplifting, and vehicle crime each tripling from zero to three incidents—a 100% increase compared to July. This spike coincides with August being a peak holiday month, when tourism surges and empty homes may increase burglary risk. Conversely, anti-social behaviour dropped 70% (from 10 to 3 incidents), potentially reflecting the seasonal departure of transient populations. Criminal damage and arson also fell by 33.3%.5 per 1,000 residents still remains 142% above the UK average. This suggests persistent challenges in addressing property-related offences, even as other categories decline. For residents, the tripled rate of vehicle crime—a 0.6 per 1,000 figure—may prompt consideration of additional security measures for parked vehicles during the holiday season.

Wingate's crime rate in August 2024 rose 2.6% compared to July's 7.4 per 1,000 residents, reaching 7.6 per 1,000. This increase, though modest, aligns with seasonal patterns typical for August—a peak holiday month in this area. Locally, this translates to roughly one reported crime every 131 residents over the course of the month, a figure that contextualises risk within the community. Daily, Wingate experienced approximately one crime per day in August, a rate that, while low, reflects the area's generally quiet nature compared to larger urban centres. The population of 5,391 residents means each resident faces a calculated monthly exposure of one crime for every 131 people, a metric that highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. This exposure rate is consistent with Wingate's historical position as a low-crime locality within County Durham, where the density of population is lower than in major cities but higher than in rural zones.