Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
DH2 · County Durham
155
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
DH4 · Sunderland
86
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Houghton-le-Spring has less crime — 86 vs 155 incidents in February 2026.
Chester-le-Street recorded notably higher crime than Houghton-le-Spring in February 2026 — 155 vs 86 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chester-le-Street sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (31), while Houghton-le-Spring has more Shoplifting (11). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Houghton-le-Spring recorded fewer crimes than Chester-le-Street — 86 vs 155 incidents. That is 45% fewer crimes. Houghton-le-Spring is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Chester-le-Street saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Houghton-le-Spring had more Shoplifting. Overall, Houghton-le-Spring recorded fewer total crimes (86 vs 155).