Reported crime in the Low Fell, Allerdene, and Birtley area of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, fell to 131 incidents in January 2026. According to figures from Northumbria Police, this total marks a sharp decrease from much of 2025, when monthly totals usually ranged between 400 and 490 incidents.
Anti-social behaviour was the most common issue reported in the local area last month, with 47 separate cases. Other recorded incidents included 34 reports of violence and sexual offences and 12 cases of shoplifting.
The drop in reported crime follows a £1.8 million investment into extra police patrols across the region for the 2025-2026 period. Susan Dungworth, the Police and Crime Commissioner, secured this funding to increase the number of officers on the streets and tackle local safety concerns.
While the latest numbers show a significant fall, the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner has previously noted that the force is currently using an older system for logging crimes. This technology is being replaced in the spring of 2026 to help fix gaps in how different offences are recorded by the police.
These local safety figures arrive as Gateshead prepares for council elections in May 2026. The upcoming vote follows a full review of local ward boundaries which changed how different neighbourhoods in the borough are organised.
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