Overview

• Across England and Wales, summer beating reports rose about 105% from 1,613 in 2020 to 3,304 in 2024, equating to roughly one report every 15 minutes.
• County Durham’s latest breakdown shows a 111% rise over the four summers, from 44 cases in 2020 to 93 in 2024, totaling 332 reports.
• The North East recorded 666 reports over the period, including 334 in Tyne and Wear (up 85%) and 332 in Durham (up 111%).
• RSPCA emergency-line cruelty calls in last summer’s June–August period climbed to 34,401 from 25,887 the previous year, averaging 374 reports a day.
• Dogs are the most frequently reported victims, with nearly 21,000 dog-beating reports last year and bulldog breeds and Staffordshire bull terriers prominent in the data.