Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
DH2 · County Durham
155
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
SR4 · Sunderland
213
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Chester-le-Street has less crime — 155 vs 213 incidents in February 2026.
Houghton-le-Spring saw somewhat more crime than Chester-le-Street in February 2026 (213 vs 155 incidents). The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chester-le-Street sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (31), while Houghton-le-Spring has more Shoplifting (20). 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, Chester-le-Street recorded fewer crimes than Houghton-le-Spring — 155 vs 213 incidents. That is 27% fewer crimes. Houghton-le-Spring is above the national average.
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, Chester-le-Street recorded fewer total crimes (155 vs 213).