Fence Houses Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 marked a stark shift in Fence Houses' crime profile, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 37% of all reported crimes—over a third of the total. This category remains significantly below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000 vs 2.6 per 1,000), reflecting a pattern consistent with the area’s working-class urban character and limited nightlife infrastructure. The second most common crime, criminal damage and arson (18.5% of total), stood at 0.9 per 1,000, 70% above the UK average—a figure that may partly explain the 150% month-on-month surge in this category. The seasonal context of December—dark evenings, Christmas shopping, and the temporary absence of residents during holidays—likely contributed to both property-related crimes and acts of vandalism. While violent crime remains low compared to the UK, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson contrasts with the 65% decrease in shoplifting (from 0 to 1 incident), possibly reflecting heightened community vigilance during the festive season. The area’s built-up nature within Sunderland, with its mix of residential and industrial zones, may also influence crime patterns, as empty homes during holidays create opportunities for targeted acts of damage.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift was the 150% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from 2 to 5 incidents. This spike, combined with a 100% rise in shoplifting, highlights a sharp divergence in property-related crime trends. While violence and sexual offences (10 incidents) remained the most common category, their rate (1.9 per 1,000) was 26% below the UK average, a contrast to the 70% above average rate for criminal damage and arson. The category of burglary saw an 85.7% decline, from 7 to 1 incident, possibly linked to increased home security measures or seasonal patterns of occupancy. Drugs-related crimes fell by two-thirds, from 3 to 1, suggesting a temporary reduction in illicit activity during the holiday period. For residents, the 65% drop in shoplifting (from 0 to 1) may indicate improved retail security or reduced foot traffic, though this remains a small sample size. The UK average for anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) was 36% higher than Fence Houses’ rate (0.6 per 1,000), underscoring the area’s relatively lower levels of public disorder compared to national trends.

December 2024 saw Fence Houses’ crime rate drop by 35.7% compared to November 2024, falling from 7.9 to 5.1 per 1,000 residents—a decline that places the area well below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that may seem high in isolation but translates to a monthly exposure of one reported crime for every 198 residents. This rate is lower than the UK average, where the equivalent figure would be closer to one in 140 residents. The previous month’s rate (7.9) was 31% higher than December’s, suggesting a temporary spike in activity that may have been influenced by seasonal factors such as holiday-related disruptions. While the overall rate remains low, the 70% increase in criminal damage and arson compared to the UK average raises questions about localized vulnerabilities, particularly in areas with vacant properties during the holiday season. The population of 5,335 residents means that each resident is statistically less likely to be directly affected by crime than the UK average, though targeted incidents remain a concern for specific neighbourhoods within Fence Houses.