Crime in Kemsley: statistics, rates and trends
465 crimes were recorded in Kemsley in the 12 months to July 2026, 71.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
465 crimes were recorded in Kemsley in the 12 months to July 2026, 71.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 155 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Kemsley has the 2,177th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Kemsley | Swale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 465 | 15,724 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 71.2 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +12% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 6,531 | 158,379 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Kemsley was highest in the year to July 2021 (602 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (414). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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 | 465 | 71.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 414 | 63.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 444 | 68.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 509 | 77.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 482 | 73.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 602 | 92.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 556 | 85.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 483 | 74.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 528 | 80.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 53 |
| June 2026 | 38 |
| May 2026 | 30 |
| April 2026 | 48 |
| March 2026 | 32 |
| February 2026 | 35 |
| January 2026 | 47 |
| December 2025 | 39 |
| November 2025 | 41 |
| October 2025 | 38 |
| September 2025 | 30 |
| August 2025 | 34 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Kemsley 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.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+100%) and criminal damage and arson (+44%). The largest falls were in violence and sexual offences (-19%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 155 | 23.7 | 0.69 | -19% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 136 | 20.8 | 1.36 | +100% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 79 | 12.1 | 1.78 | +44% |
| Other theft | 30 | 4.6 | 0.72 | +25% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 2.8 | 0.56 | +20% |
| Other crime | 13 | 2.0 | 0.94 | -19% |
| Public order | 11 | 1.7 | 0.25 | -39% |
| Burglary | 7 | 1.1 | 0.30 | -53% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.9 | 0.95 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.8 | 0.93 | +150% |
| Drugs | 4 | 0.6 | 0.19 | +33% |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.2 | 0.02 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Kemsley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Kemsley recorded 155 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 33.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Kemsley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Kemsley recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 29.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Kemsley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Kemsley recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 17.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Kemsley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Kemsley recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Kemsley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Kemsley recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Kemsley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Kemsley recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Kemsley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Kemsley recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Kemsley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Kemsley recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 53% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Kemsley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Kemsley recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Kemsley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Kemsley recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Kemsley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Kemsley recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Kemsley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Kemsley recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Kemsley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Kemsley.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kemsley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Regis | 759 | 112.2 | +58% |
| Chalkwell | 509 | 125.6 | +76% |
| The Meads | 346 | 61.8 | -13% |
| Murston | 819 | 113.2 | +59% |
| Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow | 247 | 43.1 | -39% |
| Roman | 1,622 | 210.5 | +196% |
| Homewood | 411 | 70.7 | -1% |
| Borden and Grove Park | 345 | 56.8 | -20% |
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 Kemsley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Ridham Avenue | 31 |
| On or near Samuel Drive | 27 |
| On or near The Crescent | 26 |
| On or near Taillour Close | 25 |
| On or near Lloyd Drive | 20 |
| On or near Archer Court | 19 |
| On or near West Green | 17 |
| On or near Castle Rough Lane | 16 |
| On or near Flanders Close | 16 |
| On or near Merleburgh Drive | 16 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Kemsley 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Not recorded | 136 | 29.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 116 | 24.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 103 | 22.2% |
| Under investigation | 36 | 7.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 19 | 4.1% |
| Local resolution | 18 | 3.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 2.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 2.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Kemsley has an estimated population of 6,531. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Kemsley sits in decile 5.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Kemsley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.1 |
Is Kemsley a safe place to live?
Kemsley recorded 71.2 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 Kemsley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 155 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (136).
Is crime in Kemsley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kemsley was up 12% on the year before: 465 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 414 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Kemsley?
Kemsley 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 Kemsley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.