Crime in Medway: statistics, rates and trends

29,852 crimes were recorded in Medway in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 10,974 reports (37% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Medway has the 94th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Medway was highest in the year to July 2018 (39,223 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (29,852). Over the whole period it fell 24%, 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 Medway 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. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson, other crime.

The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+22%) and robbery (+21%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-24%) and burglary (-18%).

Violence and sexual offences in Medway

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Medway recorded 10,974 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 36.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Medway

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Medway recorded 6,117 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 20.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Medway

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Medway recorded 2,534 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Medway

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Medway recorded 2,104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Medway

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Medway recorded 2,012 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Medway

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Medway recorded 1,332 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Medway

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Medway recorded 1,208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Medway

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Medway recorded 1,032 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Medway

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Medway recorded 890 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Medway

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Medway recorded 678 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Medway

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Medway recorded 323 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Medway

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Medway recorded 298 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Medway

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Medway recorded 214 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 3% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Medway

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Medway recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

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

36 areas within Medway, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Fort Pitt had the highest rate (282.0 per 1,000) and Cliffe Woods the lowest (25.6). 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 Medway over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Medway 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.

Medway has an estimated population of 292,655. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Medway sits in decile 4.8, 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 Medway. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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