Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
DL5 · County Durham
222
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
DH4 · Sunderland
86
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Houghton-le-Spring has less crime — 86 vs 222 incidents in February 2026.
Great Aycliffe recorded substantially more crime than Houghton-le-Spring in February 2026 — 222 incidents compared to 86, a 2.6x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Great Aycliffe sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (23), while Houghton-le-Spring has more Shoplifting (11). Great Aycliffe 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 February 2026 Police data, Houghton-le-Spring recorded fewer crimes than Great Aycliffe — 86 vs 222 incidents. That is 61% fewer crimes. Houghton-le-Spring is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Great Aycliffe saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Houghton-le-Spring had more Shoplifting. Overall, Houghton-le-Spring recorded fewer total crimes (86 vs 222).