Northumbria Police
North East · Territorial force · 3,700 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,700
Staff
1,600
Area (sq miles)
2,113
Population served
1,470,000
About Northumbria Police
Covering Newcastle, Sunderland and surrounding areas. Consistently rated as a well-managed force with good community relations and an excellent cost of living for officers.
Northumbria Police is a territorial force covering the North East of England, including major urban areas such as Newcastle and Sunderland. The force operates within a diverse geographic landscape that includes vibrant cities and surrounding rural areas, providing a mix of urban policing challenges and community-oriented initiatives. Notably, Northumbria Police borders other forces, adding complexity to cross-border operations. It also serves critical transport networks and strategic locations, including the Port of Tyne and proximity to the military base at Catterick Garrison, enhancing its operational scope.
The force has several notable specialist units, including the Cyber Crime Unit, the Roads Policing Unit, and an Armed Response Unit, which reflect its commitment to tackling modern crime and ensuring public safety across multiple domains. Additionally, Northumbria Police places a strong emphasis on community engagement and safeguarding, making strides in working closely with local residents to address public concerns. Recent public-interest initiatives focus on tackling violence against women and girls, promoting mental health awareness, and enhancing community cohesion. These priorities demonstrate the force's proactive approach to modern policing, aiming to foster a safer environment for all residents and visitors in its jurisdiction.
Current priorities
- Violence against women and girls
- Mental health awareness
- Community safety
- Road safety initiatives
Notable specialisms
Source: About Northumbria Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,700
Staff
1,600
Total headcount
5,300
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
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 532 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 64.5% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 267 |
| Stolen goods | 87 |
| Offensive weapons | 80 |
| (not recorded) | 39 |
| Article for use in theft | 22 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 17 |
| Anything to threaten or harm anyone | 14 |
| Firearms | 4 |
| Evidence of offences under the Act | 2 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 345 |
| Arrest | 125 |
| Community resolution | 37 |
| Summons / charged by post | 23 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 1 |
| Khat or Cannabis warning | 1 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
14,130 crimes recorded by Northumbria Police 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 | 3,796 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,813 |
| Shoplifting | 2,289 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,291 |
| Public order | 1,097 |
| Other theft | 640 |
| Vehicle crime | 590 |
| Burglary | 570 |
| Other crime | 330 |
| Drugs | 225 |
| Robbery | 195 |
| Possession of weapons | 118 |
| Bicycle theft | 93 |
| Theft from the person | 83 |
| Total | 14,130 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Northumbria Police 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 Northumbria Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Northumbria Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.