Gateshead crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
494 recorded in this period, compared with 402 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Gateshead
Gateshead is a residential suburb located in the City of Lake Macquarie local government area within the Hunter Region of New South Wales, bearing the postcode 2290. Situated approximately 14 kilometres southwest of the Newcastle central business district, the locality is positioned near the Pacific Highway, offering regional connectivity. The demographic profile largely comprises families and an established working-age population, housed predominantly in detached suburban dwellings alongside some medium-density developments.
Local life and amenities in Gateshead are centred around community convenience and retail services. The suburb features the Mount Hutton shopping precinct adjacent to its borders, which includes major supermarkets and specialty stores, providing commercial services to residents. Educational needs are served by local public schooling options, and the broader Lake Macquarie region affords residents access to various parks, sporting ovals, and proximity to coastal and lakeside recreational areas.
Historically, Gateshead—like much of the surrounding Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley region—transitioned from indigenous Awabakal lands to an area shaped by nineteenth and twentieth-century industrial development, coal mining, and subsequent post-war suburban expansion. The suburb's urban footprint developed primarily during the mid-to-late twentieth century as Newcastle and Lake Macquarie experienced population growth, transforming the area into the established residential community it is today.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Breach Apprehended Violence Order | 64 | 48 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 56 | 43 |
| Malicious damage to property | 50 | 37 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 43 | 45 |
| Fraud | 32 | 22 |
| Breach bail conditions | 30 | 14 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 29 | 26 |
| Dealing, trafficking in amphetamines | 26 | 1 |
| Sexual assault | 18 | 13 |
| Steal from dwelling | 15 | 7 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 12 | 20 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 11 | 11 |
| Steal from retail store | 11 | 5 |
| Possession and/or use of cannabis | 9 | 5 |
| Break and enter non-dwelling | 8 | 12 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 8 | 10 |
| Other theft | 8 | 11 |
| Resist or hinder officer | 7 | 4 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 3,121 residents. This is not a current population estimate.
Sources and interpretation
These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.