Figures show that their street could be the most dangerous in the region. But people working on Sunderland's Derwent Street do not recognise the picture this grim data paints. Stats show that the road , which is near a number of Sunderland's pubs and bars is the place where more physical and sexual assaults were reported than anywhere else in the North East in 2023.
ChronicleLive visited Derwent Street this week to find out what locals thought of this unenviable reputation. But instead of finding a bleak run-down city location, we discovered a friendly and peaceful side-street populated mainly by independent shops and cafes, where everybody knows their neighbours' names. Read more: The 12 North East missing people who vanished without a trace Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter And people working in these businesses told ChronicleLive they were gobsmacked to discover the road had topped the region's crime charts.
Laura Gooch who runs No IV Hair & Beauty says she couldn't believe it. The 32-year-old said: "One of my clients messaged me about it. I got the shock of my life.
Nothing happens in this street The most I have seen is in December when people run up with clothes they have nicked from TK Maxx. It's one of the best streets in Sunderland. Everybody gets on and knows each other.
It's a neighbourhood street. It's always fine on a night. Me and my friends will meet here and we always feel safe on this.