Crime in Blean Forest: statistics, rates and trends
354 crimes were recorded in Blean Forest in the 12 months to July 2026, 37.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Blean Forest at a glance
- Crime trends in Blean Forest
- Types of crime in Blean Forest
- Blean Forest compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Blean Forest
- What happened after crimes were reported in Blean Forest
- Population and deprivation in Blean Forest
- Questions about crime in Blean Forest
- About this data
354 crimes were recorded in Blean Forest in the 12 months to July 2026, 37.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than 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 108 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Blean Forest has the 3,547th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Blean Forest | Canterbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 354 | 17,618 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 37.0 | 108.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 9,558 | 162,100 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Blean Forest was highest in the year to July 2022 (460 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (325). Over the whole period it fell 4%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 354 | 37.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 367 | 38.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 325 | 34.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 394 | 41.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 460 | 48.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 411 | 43.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 387 | 40.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 340 | 35.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 367 | 38.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 31 |
| June 2026 | 31 |
| May 2026 | 45 |
| April 2026 | 28 |
| March 2026 | 26 |
| February 2026 | 24 |
| January 2026 | 21 |
| December 2025 | 33 |
| November 2025 | 47 |
| October 2025 | 30 |
| September 2025 | 15 |
| August 2025 | 23 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Blean Forest 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 bicycle theft.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+68%) and criminal damage and arson (+17%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-27%) and violence and sexual offences (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 108 | 11.3 | 0.33 | -24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 57 | 6.0 | 0.39 | +68% |
| Other theft | 49 | 5.1 | 0.80 | -21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 35 | 3.7 | 0.54 | +17% |
| Vehicle crime | 24 | 2.5 | 0.51 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 16 | 1.7 | 2.03 | -27% |
| Shoplifting | 16 | 1.7 | 0.20 | +14% |
| Drugs | 14 | 1.5 | 0.45 | +8% |
| Public order | 10 | 1.0 | 0.16 | +100% |
| Burglary | 9 | 0.9 | 0.27 | -40% |
| Other crime | 9 | 0.9 | 0.45 | +29% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 0.65 | +0% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Blean Forest
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Blean Forest recorded 108 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 30.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Blean Forest
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Blean Forest recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 68% on the year before. It made up 16.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Blean Forest
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Blean Forest recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 13.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Blean Forest
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Blean Forest recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Blean Forest
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Blean Forest recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Blean Forest
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Blean Forest recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Blean Forest
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Blean Forest recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Blean Forest
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Blean Forest recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Blean Forest
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Blean Forest recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Blean Forest
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Blean Forest recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Blean Forest
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Blean Forest recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Blean Forest
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Blean Forest recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Blean Forest
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Blean Forest recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Blean Forest, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Blean Forest.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blean Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Stephen's | 874 | 107.4 | +190% |
| Westgate | 3,308 | 304.1 | +721% |
| Northgate | 2,027 | 245.2 | +562% |
| Wincheap | 1,290 | 113.9 | +208% |
| Barton | 1,932 | 153.5 | +314% |
| Sturry | 666 | 77.3 | +109% |
| Chartham & Stone Street | 489 | 63.6 | +72% |
| Seasalter | 745 | 92.0 | +148% |
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 Blean Forest over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 32 |
| On or near Nightclub | 31 |
| On or near Turing Road | 23 |
| On or near Mill Lane | 17 |
| On or near Whitstable Road | 17 |
| On or near Harcourt Drive | 16 |
| On or near Church Hill | 14 |
| On or near Park Wood Road | 13 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 12 |
| On or near Cherry Avenue | 11 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Blean Forest 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 154 | 43.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 93 | 26.3% |
| Not recorded | 57 | 16.1% |
| Under investigation | 21 | 5.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 1.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
Blean Forest has an estimated population of 9,558. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Blean Forest sits in decile 8.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Blean Forest |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 72.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 78.6% |
| Social rented homes | 5.0% |
| Private rented homes | 16.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.8 |
Is Blean Forest a safe place to live?
Blean Forest recorded 37.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Blean Forest?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 108 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (57).
Is crime in Blean Forest going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blean Forest was down 4% on the year before: 354 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 367 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Blean Forest?
Blean Forest is policed by Kent. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Blean Forest. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.