Crime Rates Newcastle 2025: Latest Stats, Common Crimes, and How to Stay Safe

Newcastle upon Tyne is famous for its vibrant nightlife, friendly locals, and rich history. For anyone considering a move to this lively city, one important question stands out: Is Newcastle safe? Generally, Newcastle is a welcoming place, but like any major UK city, it faces its share of crime challenges.

This blog explores the latest crime rates Newcastle, offering clear insights into the most common offences, reasons behind the city’s higher crime levels, the safest and most dangerous areas, and giving you practical safety tips to help you stay secure. Read on!

The Latest Newcastle Crime Statistics (2024-2025)

In the year up to August 2025, Newcastle recorded 33,671 crimes, which works out to 91 crimes for every 1,000 people during the day. That’s just a small rise from last year’s 90.18, but still 4% lower than in 2023, when the rate was 94.

The crime rate in Newcastle upon Tyne is 26% higher than the national average across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It’s also a bit higher than the North East average of 88 and Tyne & Wear’s 86. This makes Newcastle the most high-risk major city in Tyne & Wear and one of the top ten most dangerous spots in the county.

When compared with other big UK cities, Newcastle’s numbers sit below Leeds (109 per 1,000) and Liverpool (97 per 1,000), but above Sheffield (83 per 1,000).

Violent crimes make up about 38% of all offences, with 35 cases per 1,000 people, around 16% higher than the national figure. The good news is that the city’s overall crime risk score has dropped, falling nearly one point in the past five years and 35 points over the last decade.

Common Types of Crimes in Newcastle

Newcastle sees many kinds of crimes, shaped by its busy nightlife and active city life. Here’s a look at the offences that happen most often across the area.

Why Is the Crime Rate High in Newcastle?

The overall Newcastle crime rate stands at 91 per 1,000, which is higher than national and regional averages. So what’s the reason behind it? Here are the major factors.

• Economic Deprivation and Inequality: High poverty levels drive crimes like theft, drug offences, and burglary, leading to high crime rates Newcastle. With unemployment above the UK average, financial pressures post-pandemic have fueled desperation-driven offences.
• Vibrant Nightlife and High Footfall: Bars, clubs, and nightlife areas contribute to violence, public order offences, and anti-social behaviour. This is one of the main reasons that causes crime rates Newcastle.
• Large Transient Populations: Over 50,000 students and tourists increase opportunistic crimes like shoplifting and pickpocketing. Unfamiliarity with local risks makes these groups easier targets in high-traffic zones.
• Regional and Geographic Factors: North East deprivation levels are higher than southern England, amplifying shoplifting and drug-related crimes. Urban density fosters local crime hotspots.
• Policing Gaps and Resource Constraints: Cuts in public services and insufficient community interventions contribute to persistent violence and property crimes.

Safest and Most Dangerous Areas in Newcastle

Crime rates Newcastle vary significantly, with central urban zones experiencing higher incidents, while suburbs remain relatively calm. Here’s a clear overview:

Safest Areas:

• High Heaton: Quiet residential streets, active community networks, and nearby parks create a safe, family-friendly environment.
• North Gosforth: Low-deprivation area with excellent schools and safe streets, ideal for families and long-term residents.
• South Gosforth: Affluent neighbourhood with peaceful streets, strong community engagement, and minimal crime rates.
• Jesmond: Trendy yet secure, Jesmond has low burglary rates and active local safety measures.
• Gosforth (Central): Balanced urban-suburban living with green spaces and community policing ensures low incidents.
• Spital Tongues & Heaton: Student-heavy areas remain safe thanks to good lighting, community watches, and resident vigilance.

Dangerous Areas:

• Monument/City Centre: Highly frequent shoplifting, violence, and anti-social behaviour. Busy nightlife and retail areas make vigilance essential, especially after dark.
• Byker: Burglary, theft, and drug offences are common. Economic challenges and dense housing contribute to higher crime, so residents should stay alert.
• Wingrove: Vehicle crime, vandalism, and opportunistic theft are frequent. Its proximity to the city centre increases exposure to urban offences.
• Elswick: Public order incidents and violence occur in densely populated streets, and limited lighting raises risks during evenings.
• Arthur’s Hill: Theft and assaults are most prevalent near student areas and nightlife spots, requiring community awareness and caution.
• Denton & Westerhope: These suburbs sometimes see home break-ins and car thefts. The main reason is that police patrols aren’t as common in this part of the city.

How to Stay Safer in Newcastle

Since Newcastle’s crime rate is still higher than the national average, it helps to take a few simple steps to stay safe. Both locals and visitors can protect themselves and their belongings by being a bit more aware. Here are some easy ways to stay safer at home and when out in public.

Be Vigilant in High-Risk Areas: Stick to well-lit streets, travel in groups, and avoid isolated paths, particularly in the city centre or Byker. Check local crime maps and apps for hotspot alerts, and report suspicious behaviour immediately.

Protect Your Belongings and Travel Safely: Keep valuables like phones and wallets in zipped pockets or anti-theft bags. Avoid flashing cash or expensive items in crowded areas. Use licensed taxis or ride-share apps, night buses with CCTV, and register bikes with security to prevent theft.

Engage with Your Community: Join neighbourhood watch schemes, university safety programs, or local forums to stay informed. Participation in community initiatives enhances collective vigilance and deters crime.

Enhance Outdoor Security: To protect against property crimes like burglary or vehicle theft, consider advanced surveillance with outdoor security cameras for real-time perimeter monitoring and deterrence.

Here, the eufycam S4 is an excellent choice, which boasts a triple-lens hybrid system with 4K UHD resolution from its upper bullet camera and dual 2K PTZ cameras for comprehensive coverage. It’s a great high-resolution monitoring for driveways and gardens with IP65 weather resistance.

Furthermore, you can complement outdoor monitoring with the video doorbell e340, which provides dual-camera views, motion alerts, and smart integration. It features AI-powered human and package detection, colour night vision, and two-way audio, helping verify visitors and screen potential threats effectively.

Invest in Indoor Security: Inside your home or accommodation, keep valuables out of sight, lock internal doors, and use timers for lights to simulate occupancy. Enhance monitoring withindoor security cameras for remote oversight.

A top option is the eufy Indoor Cam S350, which provides 4K clarity, AI-driven motion tracking, pan-tilt functionality, and night vision, ensuring movement is detected and unauthorised access is safeguarded.

Full Home Fortification: For comprehensive protection, integrate multiple systems covering both indoor and outdoor areas. The NVR CCTV System S4 Max supports multi-camera setups, 24/7 high-resolution recording, AI detection, and centralised storage. It ensures robust coverage against break-ins or vandalism and provides evidence-ready footage with smart remote access.

Conclusion

As you can see, crime rates Newcastle remain higher than both regional and national averages. By choosing safer neighbourhoods, staying alert in high-risk areas, and adopting proactive measures, residents and visitors can significantly improve their personal and property safety.

For added protection, consider investing in modern security solutions like eufy’s indoor and outdoor cameras. They can provide peace of mind, real-time monitoring, and effective deterrence against crime.

FAQs

What is the crime rate in Newcastle UK?

In the 12 months up to August 2025, Newcastle recorded 91 crimes for every 1,000 people, with a total of 33,671 offences. That’s 26% higher than the national average, 7% higher than Tyne & Wear, and just above the North East average.

Even though total crimes fell by 4% since 2024, the city’s rate is still on the high side compared with other UK cities. The good news is that the numbers have been slowly improving over the past five and ten years.

Where is the safest place to live in Newcastle?

High Heaton ranks among the safest, with 46 crimes per 1,000, quiet streets, strong community ties, and green spaces that reduce incidents.

North Gosforth follows with about 54.4 per 1,000, offering family-friendly streets, low deprivation, and a secure environment for raising children.

South Gosforth records under 56.9 per 1,000, featuring affluent homes, excellent schools, and minimal crime, making it ideal for professionals seeking safety, comfort, and a calm urban lifestyle.

What crimes are most common in Newcastle?

Violence and sexual offences dominate, with 12,892 incidents in 2025 at 35 per 1,000, often linked to nightlife areas.

Shoplifting ranks second at 4,528 offences (12 per 1,000), surging 31% over three years, especially in retail districts like Northumberland Street.

Public order offences come third with 3,265 cases, involving disorderly conduct during crowded events, football matches, and busy urban areas.

Is Newcastle generally safe to live in?

Newcastle is fairly safe overall, with most crime happening in busy city centre areas instead of quiet neighbourhoods. It sits around the middle range of UK cities — safer than Leeds and Liverpool, but a bit higher than Sheffield and Cardiff.

Some crimes, like vehicle theft, have gone down in recent years. Locals can make things even safer by staying alert and using simple home security tools such as cameras, alarms, and smart monitoring systems.