South Shields Crime Rate June 2024 | Monthly Statistics

June 2024 marked a 2.7% increase in South Shields’ crime rate compared to May, pushing it to 13.9 crimes per 1,000 residents — 69.5% above the UK average of 8.2. The area’s crime profile remains shaped by its coastal location and urban density, with violence and sexual offences (311 incidents, 30.4% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (263 cases, 25.7%) dominating the monthly tally. These patterns align with the season, as June marks the start of summer and the influx of tourists to South Shields’ coastline. Anti-social behaviour, which is 157% above the UK average, likely reflects increased public space usage during longer daylight hours and warmer weather. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson (108 incidents, 10.6% of total) and shoplifting (93 cases, 9.1%) also surged above UK averages, suggesting a combination of seasonal activity and local factors such as retail presence along the town’s high streets. The overall crime rate, while higher than the UK average, remains consistent with South Shields’ status as a built-up area within South Tyneside, where urban density and tourism-driven foot traffic may contribute to elevated levels of certain offences. Seasonal context further supports these trends: as summer begins, the town’s proximity to coastal attractions and the start of the tourism season may increase opportunities for anti-social behaviour and property-related crimes.

June 2024 saw sharp increases in theft from the person (+100%) and bicycle theft (+100%) compared to May, with the latter reaching 10 incidents. These jumps may reflect the start of the summer season, when more cyclists and tourists frequent the area. Conversely, robbery fell by 66.7% (from 9 to 3 cases), due to increased police presence or seasonal shifts in criminal activity. Anti-social behaviour, which is 157% above the UK average, remained the most common crime, likely driven by the town’s urban environment and summer-related public gatherings. Vehicle crime rose by 17.4% (23 to 27 cases), though it remains 11% below the UK average, suggesting local factors such as parking density or enforcement may moderate this category. Drug-related offences decreased by 15.8% (19 to 16 cases), linked to seasonal patterns in drug use or heightened local policing efforts. The crime mix also shows a stark imbalance: over a third of all incidents (30.4%) were violent crimes, compared to 25.7% anti-social behaviour and 10.6% criminal damage. This violent crime dominance, which is 52% above the UK average for this category, may reflect South Shields’ socio-economic dynamics, including the presence of younger populations in certain areas.

South Shields’ crime rate in June 2024 (13.9 per 1,000) rose by 2.7% compared to May’s 13.5 per 1,000, marking a slight upward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 34 crimes per day — a figure that, while local to South Shields, provides residents with a tangible sense of the pace of criminal activity. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for every 72 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the population of 73,676. This statistic, when considered alongside the UK average, highlights South Shields’ high crime levels: the area’s rate is 69.5% above the national average, a disparity that may reflect its unique characteristics as a coastal built-up area. While the daily crime count is a local metric without a UK-wide counterpart, the monthly exposure figure offers a clearer context for residents, showing that crime is a regular, if not daily, occurrence in the area. The 2.7% increase from May, though modest, suggests that local factors — such as the summer season’s influence on anti-social behaviour or the timing of local events — may be contributing to the sustained elevation in crime rates compared to the UK average.