Crime in Bearsted & Downswood: statistics, rates and trends
340 crimes were recorded in Bearsted & Downswood in the 12 months to August 2026, 35.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Bearsted & Downswood at a glance
- Crime trends in Bearsted & Downswood
- Types of crime in Bearsted & Downswood
- Bearsted & Downswood compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Bearsted & Downswood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bearsted & Downswood
- Demographics of Bearsted & Downswood
- Questions about crime in Bearsted & Downswood
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (129), anti-social behaviour (99) and criminal damage and arson (24) made up 74% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,635th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Bearsted & Downswood | Maidstone | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 340 | 16,356 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 35.0 | 87.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 9,723 | 187,767 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Bearsted & Downswood peaked in the year to August 2021 (402 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (304). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 340 | 35.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 337 | 34.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 324 | 33.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 358 | 36.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 346 | 35.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 402 | 41.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 333 | 34.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 304 | 31.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 382 | 39.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 34 |
| July 2026 | 30 |
| June 2026 | 32 |
| May 2026 | 32 |
| April 2026 | 25 |
| March 2026 | 20 |
| February 2026 | 28 |
| January 2026 | 35 |
| December 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 28 |
| October 2025 | 26 |
| September 2025 | 16 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and criminal damage and arson (63% below) and other theft (63% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 50 to 99, while criminal damage and arson fell from 37 to 24.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 129 | 13.3 | 34.2 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 99 | 10.2 | 15.4 | +98% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 24 | 2.5 | 6.7 | -35% |
| Other theft | 23 | 2.4 | 6.4 | -15% |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 1.6 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Public order | 12 | 1.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 1.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 10 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Other crime | 8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Bearsted & Downswood.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bearsted & Downswood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grove Green & Vinters Park | 409 | 50.7 | +45% |
| Shepway | 1,267 | 100.5 | +188% |
| Park Wood & Mangravet | 1,115 | 117.4 | +236% |
| High Street | 3,218 | 278.2 | +696% |
| Penenden Heath | 1,239 | 80.4 | +130% |
| Leeds & Langley | 638 | 67.2 | +92% |
| Tovil | 459 | 70.0 | +100% |
| Loose & Linton | 669 | 64.0 | +83% |
The 10 locations below account for 40% of the crime recorded in Bearsted & Downswood over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (23).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 23 |
| On or near Mallards Way | 17 |
| On or near Chiltern Close | 14 |
| On or near Forge Lane | 13 |
| On or near Spot Lane | 13 |
| On or near Otham Lane | 12 |
| On or near Supermarket | 12 |
| On or near Gascoyne Close | 11 |
| On or near Lilk Hill | 11 |
| On or near Roundwell | 11 |
Of the 241 crimes in Bearsted & Downswood with a recorded outcome, 39% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 99 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 98 | 40.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 94 | 39.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 16 | 6.6% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 2.9% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 2.9% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 2.1% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
Bearsted & Downswood has an estimated population of 9,723 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (2.6%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (8.4%, against 23.3%) and an older population (27%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bearsted & Downswood average decile 9.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Bearsted & Downswood | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 31.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 84.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 2.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bearsted & Downswood a safe place to live?
Bearsted & Downswood recorded 35.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,635th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Bearsted & Downswood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 129 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (99).
Is crime in Bearsted & Downswood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bearsted & Downswood was almost unchanged on the year before: 340 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 337 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bearsted & Downswood?
About 9,723 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bearsted & Downswood?
Bearsted & Downswood is policed by Kent.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.