Crime in Boughton and Courtenay: statistics, rates and trends
263 crimes were recorded in Boughton and Courtenay in the 12 months to August 2026, 44.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Boughton and Courtenay at a glance
- Crime trends in Boughton and Courtenay
- Types of crime in Boughton and Courtenay
- Boughton and Courtenay compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Boughton and Courtenay
- What happened after crimes were reported in Boughton and Courtenay
- Demographics of Boughton and Courtenay
- Questions about crime in Boughton and Courtenay
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (96), anti-social behaviour (41) and other theft (32) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,282nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Boughton and Courtenay | Swale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 263 | 15,704 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 44.2 | 99.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 5,948 | 158,379 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Boughton and Courtenay of any year here (263 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 52%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 263 | 44.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 312 | 52.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 334 | 56.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 331 | 55.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 464 | 78.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 484 | 81.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 516 | 86.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 517 | 86.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 552 | 92.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 25 |
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 22 |
| May 2026 | 15 |
| April 2026 | 23 |
| March 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 21 |
| January 2026 | 28 |
| December 2025 | 19 |
| November 2025 | 25 |
| October 2025 | 25 |
| September 2025 | 16 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (55% below) and violence and sexual offences (53% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 28 to 41, while criminal damage and arson fell from 36 to 26 and violence and sexual offences fell from 131 to 96.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 96 | 16.1 | 34.2 | -27% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 41 | 6.9 | 15.4 | +46% |
| Other theft | 32 | 5.4 | 6.4 | -16% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 4.5 | 5.0 | +8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 26 | 4.4 | 6.7 | -28% |
| Other crime | 15 | 2.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 7 | 1.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 3 | 0.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Boughton and Courtenay.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Boughton and Courtenay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 843 | 120.3 | +172% |
| Watling | 383 | 56.8 | +28% |
| St Ann's | 446 | 83.1 | +88% |
| Priory | 377 | 110.0 | +149% |
| Teynham and Lynsted | 592 | 82.4 | +86% |
| Sheppey East | 1,166 | 153.5 | +247% |
| Murston | 825 | 114.0 | +158% |
| West Downs | 257 | 81.7 | +85% |
The 10 locations below account for 40% of the crime recorded in Boughton and Courtenay over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (26).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 26 |
| On or near Parking Area | 20 |
| On or near Rest Harrow | 13 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 9 |
| On or near Selling Road | 8 |
| On or near Sondes Court | 7 |
| On or near Field End Place | 6 |
| On or near Grove Road | 6 |
| On or near Church Hill | 5 |
| On or near Head Hill Road | 5 |
Of the 222 crimes in Boughton and Courtenay with a recorded outcome, 37% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 41 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 90 | 40.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 82 | 36.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 22 | 9.9% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 1.8% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Boughton and Courtenay has an estimated population of 5,948 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (8.7%, against 23.3%), less private renting (12%, against 20%) and fewer students (5.0%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Boughton and Courtenay average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Boughton and Courtenay | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Boughton and Courtenay a safe place to live?
Boughton and Courtenay recorded 44.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,282nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Boughton and Courtenay?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 96 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (41).
Is crime in Boughton and Courtenay going up or down?
Recorded crime in Boughton and Courtenay was down 16% on the year before: 263 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 312 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Boughton and Courtenay?
About 5,948 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 26% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Boughton and Courtenay?
Boughton and Courtenay 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.