Independent place research · North East
Is Newcastle upon Tyne rough, safe or a good place to live?
Tyne bridge city and Geordie culture hub. This report examines the “safe”, “rough” and quality-of-life questions using recorded evidence—not a hidden score or generic verdict.
Direct answer
Is Newcastle upon Tyne rough?
A responsible town-wide yes or no label is not possible. Police.uk recorded 1,210 incidents within roughly one mile of Newcastle upon Tyne centre in 2026-08, but that raw count is not adjusted for population or footfall. Check the exact street, visit at different times and weigh housing, transport and local services before deciding.
01 · Recorded pattern
How the monthly count has moved
Counts are plotted consistently around the town centre. Changes can reflect footfall, reporting and policing as well as underlying incidents.
11672026-05
11112026-06
11092026-07
12102026-08
02 · Latest category mix
What was recorded in 2026-08
Categories come directly from Police.uk. Locations are anonymised and counts may include people who do not live locally.
Violence & sexual offences33428%
Anti-social behaviour27423%
Shoplifting17414%
Public order857%
Other theft706%
Criminal damage & arson635%
Burglary403%
Vehicle crime403%
Drugs323%
Theft from the person282%
Robbery262%
Bicycle theft192%
Other crime161%
Possession of weapons91%
03 · Read the evidence responsibly
This cannot tell you whether Newcastle upon Tyne is “good” or “bad”.
Town-centre counts tend to rise with shops, stations, nightlife and visitor numbers. They are not adjusted for population and do not describe every street or the experience of living there.
Visit at different times, inspect the exact postcode and check transport, housing condition, schools, healthcare and environmental risks before deciding.
Read the complete methodology →04 · Questions people ask
Is Newcastle upon Tyne safe—or rough?
These common search questions deserve a more careful answer than a yes/no label.
Is Newcastle upon Tyne safe?
Police.uk recorded 1,210 incidents near the centre in 2026-08. This gives recent context but is not population-adjusted and cannot describe every neighbourhood or street.
Is Newcastle upon Tyne rough?
“Rough” is subjective. Town-centre activity can inflate raw counts, while conditions vary within short distances. Check the exact postcode and visit in person before reaching a view.
Is Newcastle upon Tyne a good place to live?
That depends on housing, budget, transport, schools, healthcare, environment and personal priorities as well as recorded crime. Use the postcode report to bring those checks together.
For comparable national context, see the recorded crime by area report.
Nearby context
Other places in North East
These use the same approximate Police.uk method, making the limitations consistent even when raw town-centre counts differ.