Fence Houses Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Fence Houses, a built-up area within Sunderland, recorded a crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents in February 2025, placing it 38.8% below the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000. This stark contrast to national trends highlights a unique balance in the local crime profile, where violent crimes (9 incidents) outnumbered property crimes (5 incidents) by nearly double. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 40.9% of all recorded crimes, a proportion significantly higher than the UK average of 28% for this category. This dominance of violent crime over property crime may reflect a combination of local social dynamics and seasonal factors typical of a winter month, when outdoor activity is limited and indoor gatherings are more common. The data also reveals a complex mix of crime types, with 'Other crime' (4 incidents) standing out as 400% above the UK average for this category. This anomaly, coupled with the relatively low rates of burglary and criminal damage, suggests a distinct pattern that diverges from broader national trends. The seasonal context of February—characterised by shorter days, colder temperatures, and pre-spring lull—likely contributes to the underrepresentation of outdoor crimes such as vehicle theft, which were recorded at only 0.4 per 1,000 residents, 8% above the UK average. These patterns underscore the importance of contextualising local crime statistics within both geographic and temporal frameworks, rather than extrapolating from national averages alone.

February 2025 saw notable shifts in crime dynamics within Fence Houses, with a 100% increase in 'Other crime' (from 2 to 4 incidents) and a 100% rise in public order offences (from 0 to 2). These increases contrast sharply with steep declines in other theft (-85.7%, from 7 to 1), criminal damage and arson (-83.3%, from 6 to 1), and burglary (-75.0%, from 4 to 1). The violent crime rate (1.7 per 1,000 residents) remained 28% below the UK average for this category, a consistent trend that has likely been reinforced by the winter season, which typically sees reduced outdoor activity and fewer opportunities for crimes such as anti-social behaviour. The dominance of violent crime over property crime in this month is particularly striking, as property crimes accounted for only 22.7% of total incidents compared to 40.9% for violent crimes. This imbalance may reflect local factors such as the area's demographic composition or the presence of specific hotspots where interpersonal conflict is more prevalent. For residents, the sharp rise in 'Other crime'—a category that includes offences like fraud and anti-social behaviour—may warrant particular attention, as it represents a 400% increase over the UK average for this category. This discrepancy highlights the need for targeted local analysis rather than relying solely on national comparisons.

The crime rate in Fence Houses dropped by 45.1% from 7.5 per 1,000 residents in the previous month to 4.1 per 1,000 in February 2025, marking a significant improvement in local safety metrics. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of one crime per day over the 28-day period, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure rate of one crime for every 243 residents. This 1-in-243 ratio provides a tangible measure of risk for residents, placing Fence Houses among the safer built-up areas within Sunderland. When viewed through a population-scaled lens, the 5,335 residents of Fence Houses faced a cumulative risk equivalent to 22 recorded crimes, a manageable figure that contrasts with the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000 residents. The most pronounced shifts occurred in the 'Other crime' category, which surged to 4 incidents—400% above the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000. This anomaly suggests either an underreporting of similar offences nationally or a unique local context that warrants further exploration. The comparison also underscores the area's relative success in reducing property-related crimes, with burglary and criminal damage both falling to levels significantly below UK averages. These reductions, combined with the overall decline in the crime rate, indicate that targeted interventions or seasonal factors may have played a role in improving local safety outcomes during February.