Sunderland Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Sunderland's crime profile in January 2026 reveals a stark contrast between rising anti-social behaviour and a broader trend of declining criminal activity. The overall crime rate of 3.2 per 1,000 residents places the area 52.9% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, a disparity that reflects a combination of local policing strategies and community engagement efforts. However, a notable uptick in anti-social behaviour—accounting for 33% of all reported crimes—raises concerns, particularly as this category exceeded the UK average by 8%. This increase may partly explain the overall rate's deviation from the seasonal norm, which typically sees a drop in outdoor crimes during January's shorter days and post-holiday lull. The top three crime types—anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences, and criminal damage—collectively make up 71.7% of all incidents, highlighting the persistent challenges in managing public order and interpersonal conflicts. The relatively low levels of property crime, with shoplifting and burglary rates 65% and 64% below the UK average respectively, suggest that targeted retail and residential security measures may be contributing to this trend. Seasonal factors, including reduced foot traffic in retail areas and colder weather limiting outdoor activity, likely play a role in dampening property-related offences, though the rise in anti-social behaviour indicates that community tensions remain a pressing issue. This pattern is consistent with Sunderland's character as a post-industrial town undergoing economic transition, where social cohesion and public safety initiatives may have a measurable impact on crime dynamics.

The most significant monthly shift in January 2026 was a 17.1% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 257 to 301 incidents—a stark contrast to the sharp declines in other categories. This surge in anti-social behaviour, which now exceeds the UK average by 8%, underscores a growing challenge for local authorities managing public order. Concurrently, drug-related crimes plummeted by 82.2%, with incidents dropping from 73 to 13, a reduction that may reflect the impact of recent community-based drug education programmes or changes in local supply chains. Robbery rates also fell sharply, declining 81.8% to 8 incidents—a drop that could be linked to increased police presence in high-risk areas during the month. Public order offences, which include disorderly conduct and harassment, decreased by 81.7% to 32 cases, suggesting that targeted interventions in public spaces may be yielding results. Violence and sexual offences remained 60% below the UK average, with 281 incidents reported—a figure that, while lower than the national average, still represents a significant portion of the area's crime profile. Residents should be particularly vigilant regarding anti-social behaviour, which now constitutes over a third of all reported crimes and has shown the most pronounced increase compared to the previous month.

Sunderland's crime rate in January 2026 fell to 3.2 per 1,000 residents, a 64.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 8.8 per 1,000. This dramatic drop positions the area as one of the UK's safest places in terms of monthly crime exposure, with 1 reported crime occurring for roughly every 316 residents over the course of the month. Daily crime statistics reveal an average of 29 crimes per day in Sunderland, a figure that, while low, highlights the need for continued vigilance in addressing specific issues like anti-social behaviour. When compared to the UK average, Sunderland's overall crime rate is 52.9% below the national figure, a gap that is further widened by the stark underperformance of several categories relative to the UK. For instance, vehicle crime in Sunderland is 73% below the UK average, and burglary rates are 64% lower, suggesting that targeted security measures in residential areas may be effective. However, the area's anti-social behaviour rate—1.0 per 1,000—remains 8% above the UK average, indicating a unique challenge in managing public order. This contrast between Sunderland's overall safety and its specific vulnerabilities underscores the importance of tailored policing strategies that address both the broader trend of declining crime and the persistent issues in certain categories. The population-scaled perspective reveals that residents face a significantly lower risk of encountering crime compared to the UK average, but the recent uptick in anti-social behaviour serves as a reminder that local conditions require ongoing attention.