Crime in Ashford: statistics, rates and trends

10,803 crimes were recorded in Ashford in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 4,002 reports (37% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Ashford has the 198th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Ashford was highest in the year to July 2018 (14,090 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (10,803). Over the whole period it fell 23%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ashford over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in robbery (+74%) and bicycle theft (+58%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-25%) and public order (-18%).

Violence and sexual offences in Ashford

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ashford recorded 4,002 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 37.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Ashford

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ashford recorded 2,026 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 18.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Ashford

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ashford recorded 959 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Ashford

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ashford recorded 914 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Ashford

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ashford recorded 761 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Ashford

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ashford recorded 435 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Ashford

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ashford recorded 375 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Ashford

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ashford recorded 345 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Ashford

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ashford recorded 321 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Ashford

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ashford recorded 317 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Ashford

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ashford recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Ashford

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ashford recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Ashford

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ashford recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 74% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Ashford

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ashford recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Ashford, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ashford.

57 areas within Ashford, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Victoria had the highest rate (226.6 per 1,000) and Rolvenden the lowest (29.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Ashford over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ashford over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Ashford has an estimated population of 140,936. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ashford sits in decile 5.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Ashford. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.