Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
NE8 · Gateshead
378
crimes in March 2026
Above national average
DH4 · Sunderland
102
crimes in March 2026
Below national average
Houghton-le-Spring has less crime — 102 vs 378 incidents in March 2026.
Gateshead recorded substantially more crime than Houghton-le-Spring in March 2026 — 378 incidents compared to 102, a 3.7x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Gateshead sees higher rates of Public order (27), while Houghton-le-Spring has more Criminal damage & arson (11). Gateshead sits above the national average for recorded crime while Houghton-le-Spring is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on March 2026 Police data, Houghton-le-Spring recorded fewer crimes than Gateshead — 102 vs 378 incidents. That is 73% fewer crimes. Houghton-le-Spring is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In March 2026, Gateshead saw higher rates of Public order while Houghton-le-Spring had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Houghton-le-Spring recorded fewer total crimes (102 vs 378).