Criminal damage and arson attacks on the rise in Washington
Written by Sophie Middleton on 12th May 2022
There has been a surge of criminal damage and arson cases reported within the Washington area.
According to crime rate statistics, 40% of all crimes committed in February were under the Criminal Damage and Arson category. Crime statistics also show that there were 68 crimes committed of this type in February 2022, in comparison to 35 cases reported at the same time last year.
The Sulgrave Road area of Washington had the highest rate of Criminal Damage and Arson cases, as this area accounted for 27 of the overall crimes reported under that category in 2021.
A Sunderland City Council spokesman told us: “The City Council and our emergency service partners are very aware of the problems that some people cause through their criminal and anti-social behaviour, including vandalism and arson. We would urge residents to report any issues as the information they provide; can help us take positive action. We understand that it can be daunting for residents to come forward and report anti-social behaviour but they can do so in complete confidence, and with their help we can continue to make communities safer and help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.”
Lice and Sunderland City Council are working hard to combat the statistics and make Washington a safer space for its residents. Authorities are pushing to make sure they provide the facilities and support to those who report crimes.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We work regularly with partners to continue to tackle crimes impacting the communities we serve. This includes targeted patrols, intelligence gathering and working with local residents to identify issues and where appropriate take action.”
If you want to report a criminal offence to the Northumbria Police, do so on the ‘Tell us Something’ page of their website.
