Durham Constabulary
North East · Territorial force · 1,250 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
1,250
Staff
600
Area (sq miles)
842
Population served
640,000
About Durham Constabulary
Consistently rated as one of the best-managed forces in England. Covering County Durham and Darlington, known for innovative problem-solving policing and excellent officer satisfaction.
Durham Constabulary serves the County Durham and Darlington areas, comprising a mix of urban, suburban, and rural environments. This geographical diversity results in unique operational challenges, including the policing of a mix of communities from bustling towns to more tranquil rural settings. The force works alongside neighboring police services, coordinating efforts to address cross-border crime and enhance community safety. The region has important transport corridors, notably the A1(M) motorway and access to the East Coast mainline, which carry significant traffic and present policing demands. Durham Constabulary is also the sole police agency in the county, ensuring a unified approach to law enforcement that focuses on building relationships with local communities.
Among its notable specialisms, the force boasts a robust Cyber Crime Unit that tackles online criminal activities, a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit addressing sensitive and complex cases, and an impressive Roads Policing Unit ensuring safety on busy road networks. Additionally, the Dog Unit is integral to various operations, supporting both community safety and crime prevention.
In terms of priorities, Durham Constabulary emphasizes tackling serious and organized crime, improving public confidence in policing, and continuing to focus on preventative measures to reduce crime rates. Recent initiatives include strengthening community relationships and providing targeted resources for local safety issues, reflecting their commitment to innovative problem-solving in policing.
Current priorities
- Tackling serious and organized crime
- Improving public confidence in policing
- Community engagement and development
- Reducing crime through preventative measures
Notable specialisms
Source: About Durham Constabulary. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
1,250
Staff
600
Total headcount
1,850
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Durham Constabulary is named in 2 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
Joint inspection of the investigation and prosecution of fatal road traffic incidents
2015-02-04 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 214 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 98.1% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 105 |
| Offensive weapons | 41 |
| Article for use in theft | 35 |
| Stolen goods | 24 |
| Firearms | 5 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 3 |
| Anything to threaten or harm anyone | 1 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 136 |
| Arrest | 30 |
| Community resolution | 23 |
| (not recorded) | 17 |
| Summons / charged by post | 7 |
| Khat or Cannabis warning | 1 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
7,365 crimes recorded by Durham Constabulary in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,487 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,418 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 866 |
| Shoplifting | 782 |
| Public order | 495 |
| Other theft | 374 |
| Burglary | 277 |
| Vehicle crime | 263 |
| Other crime | 181 |
| Drugs | 91 |
| Possession of weapons | 51 |
| Robbery | 38 |
| Theft from the person | 29 |
| Bicycle theft | 13 |
| Total | 7,365 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Durham Constabulary over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Durham Constabulary; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Durham Constabulary
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.