Crime in Darwin: statistics, rates and trends
364 crimes were recorded in Darwin in the 12 months to August 2026, 68.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 11% on the year before.
Crime map
Anti-social behaviour (100), violence and sexual offences (96) and vehicle crime (60) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,281st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Darwin | Bromley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 364 | 29,136 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 68.7 | 86.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,297 | 335,319 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Darwin peaked in the year to August 2024 (385 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (286). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 364 | 68.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 328 | 61.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 385 | 72.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 345 | 65.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 334 | 63.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 384 | 72.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 325 | 61.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 286 | 54.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 317 | 59.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 39 |
| July 2026 | 29 |
| June 2026 | 27 |
| May 2026 | 30 |
| April 2026 | 24 |
| March 2026 | 36 |
| February 2026 | 32 |
| January 2026 | 32 |
| December 2025 | 30 |
| November 2025 | 35 |
| October 2025 | 21 |
| September 2025 | 29 |
Compared with England and Wales, Darwin recorded notably more vehicle crime (2.3 times the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (47% below) and other theft (33% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 47 to 60.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 100 | 18.9 | 15.4 | +8% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 96 | 18.1 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Vehicle crime | 60 | 11.3 | 5.0 | +28% |
| Public order | 26 | 4.9 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 23 | 4.3 | 6.4 | 0% |
| Burglary | 19 | 3.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 18 | 3.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 4 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 4 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Darwin; the highest is Orpington (112.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Chelsfield (43.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Darwin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggin Hill | 682 | 66.7 | -3% |
| Chelsfield | 566 | 43.5 | -37% |
| Farnborough & Crofton | 1,296 | 68.7 | 0% |
| Hayes & Coney Hall | 886 | 52.0 | -24% |
| Bromley Common & Holwood | 1,281 | 73.7 | +7% |
| Orpington | 1,531 | 112.1 | +63% |
| Petts Wood & Knoll | 629 | 44.5 | -35% |
| West Wickham | 771 | 51.1 | -26% |
The 10 locations below account for 57% of the crime recorded in Darwin over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Jail Lane” and “Sports/Recreation Area” (51 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Jail Lane | 51 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 51 |
| On or near Hanbury Drive | 43 |
| On or near Snodland Close | 15 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 10 |
| On or near Rookery Road | 9 |
| On or near Henderson Grove | 8 |
| On or near High Elms Road | 8 |
| On or near Downe Road | 7 |
| On or near High Street | 7 |
Of the 264 crimes in Darwin with a recorded outcome, 44% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 0.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 100 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 117 | 44.3% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 74 | 28.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 39 | 14.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 9.5% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 0.8% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.8% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
Darwin has an estimated population of 5,297 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (4.7%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (9.6%, against 23.3%) and less private renting (10%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Darwin average decile 6.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Darwin | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 85.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 4.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Darwin a safe place to live?
Darwin recorded 68.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,281st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Darwin?
Anti-social behaviour was the most common category, with 100 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (96).
Is crime in Darwin going up or down?
Recorded crime in Darwin was up 11% on the year before: 364 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 328 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Darwin?
About 5,297 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Darwin?
Darwin is policed by Metropolitan Police.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.