The most violent street in the Northeast, where someone is physically or sexually assaulted every two days

Police data shows that a street close to Sunderland’s pubs and bars had more reported physical and sexual assaults in 2023 than anywhere else in the North East.

On this street, Derwent Street, someone is physically attacked or sexually harassed on average every two days, making it the most violent street in the North East. Our interactive map also shows the most dangerous places near you.

According to police figures, 1.6 million violent crimes and sexual offences were committed on the streets and in residential areas of England and Wales last year, with almost 100,000 of them in the North East. These crimes include crimes against the person such as assault, grievous bodily harm, rape, sexual assault and other sexual crimes.

Across the country, there were nearly 900 streets where at least 52 of these crimes occurred last year, meaning that on average someone was attacked once a week. However, physical and sexual assaults are far more common on the country’s most dangerous streets.

Last year, 221 crimes were recorded “on or near” Derwent Street in Sunderland, which is close to the university campus, train station and a number of bars and restaurants. That equates to one crime every 40 hours.

Derwent Street was followed by Albert Street, “on or near” Albert Street, near Middlesbrough railway station, where 165 crimes were recorded.

A high number of crimes were also recorded as taking place “on or near” St James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and Cleveland Police headquarters in Middlesbrough, although these figures probably refer to where the crimes were first reported and not necessarily where they were committed.

With our interactive gadget you can see the violent crime rate in your area and the most dangerous streets.

Police statistics for larger Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA) neighborhoods – which typically include between 2,000 and 6,000 households – show that victims of physical or sexual assault are most likely to be exposed in the inner city or town center.

Newcastle city centre and the Arthur’s Hill area were the most dangerous areas in the north-east.

Last year, a total of 2,118 violent and sexual crimes were registered by the police in the city center.

This was followed by Middlesbrough Central with 1,421 crimes and then Hendon & Docks in Sunderland (843).

Academic Mary Morgan, a writer on body politics, said the figures on violence and sexual crimes highlighted the dangers that many women in particular face on a daily basis.

She said: “It is a myth that violence against women on the streets only happens in dark alleys in the middle of the night. Violence against women happens everywhere, at all times. Most of the streets with the highest crime rates are actually near popular areas like bars, restaurants and train stations. It is a basic right to be able to exist without the threat of violence. Women cannot even exist without the constant threat of harm. And it has been normalised.

“We’ve all heard stories of women walking around with keys in their hands, sending their locations to their friends and saying ‘Text me when you get home’ as often as they say goodbye. This is not normal. Women should be able to leave the house without fear of violence or death.”