Crime in Old Kent Road: statistics, rates and trends

2,312 crimes were recorded in Old Kent Road in the 12 months to July 2026, 143.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before.

2,312 crimes were recorded in Old Kent Road in the 12 months to July 2026, 143.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 568 reports (25% of the total).

Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Old Kent Road has the 492nd highest crime rate.

MeasureOld Kent RoadSouthwarkEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 20262,31249,0035,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents143.7155.796.4
Change on previous 12 months+3%-1%-1%
Population16,090314,78658,797,018

Recorded crime in Old Kent Road was highest in the year to July 2021 (2,379 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,880). Over the whole period it rose 23%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 20262,312143.796.4
Year to July 20252,237139.097.1
Year to July 20242,337145.297.7
Year to July 20232,228138.55.2
Year to July 20222,044127.0101.3
Year to July 20212,379147.9102.1
Year to July 20202,178135.4101.9
Year to July 20192,012125.0101.5
Year to July 20181,880116.8100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 2026204
June 2026205
May 2026200
April 2026192
March 2026189
February 2026184
January 2026203
December 2025172
November 2025188
October 2025173
September 2025200
August 2025202

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Old Kent Road 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, other theft, vehicle crime.

The largest increases were in shoplifting (+27%) and burglary (+21%). The largest falls were in drugs (-30%) and criminal damage and arson (-25%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences56835.31.03+5%
Anti-social behaviour49230.61.99+2%
Other theft21513.42.09+13%
Vehicle crime1519.41.91-7%
Theft from the person1489.25.45+5%
Burglary1368.52.39+21%
Public order1237.61.15+13%
Shoplifting1227.60.92+27%
Robbery925.74.23+21%
Criminal damage and arson885.50.81-25%
Drugs815.01.54-30%
Bicycle theft603.74.53+7%
Other crime221.40.65-21%
Possession of weapons140.90.90-7%

Violence and sexual offences in Old Kent Road

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Old Kent Road recorded 568 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (35.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 24.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Old Kent Road

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Old Kent Road recorded 492 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 21.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Old Kent Road

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Old Kent Road recorded 215 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Old Kent Road

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Old Kent Road recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Old Kent Road

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Old Kent Road recorded 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Old Kent Road

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Old Kent Road recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Old Kent Road

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Old Kent Road recorded 123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Old Kent Road

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Old Kent Road recorded 122 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Old Kent Road

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Old Kent Road recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Old Kent Road

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Old Kent Road recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Old Kent Road

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Old Kent Road recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Old Kent Road

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Old Kent Road recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Old Kent Road

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Old Kent Road recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Old Kent Road

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Old Kent Road recorded 14 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 down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Old Kent Road, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Old Kent Road.

NeighbourhoodCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Old Kent Road
Peckham1,959130.5-9%
South Bermondsey2,078116.2-19%
Nunhead & Queen's Road1,927115.5-20%
Faraday3,079210.6+47%
St Giles1,618113.3-21%
North Bermondsey2,274139.2-3%
Rye Lane3,799198.0+38%
Rotherhithe2,194138.4-4%

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 Old Kent Road over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Supermarket151
On or near Old Kent Road101
On or near Avondale Square91
On or near Sylvan Grove82
On or near Petrol Station77
On or near Shopping Area77
On or near Rowcross Street65
On or near Shard'S Square58
On or near Rolls Road57
On or near Wales Close54

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Old Kent Road 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Investigation complete; no suspect identified97542.2%
Not recorded49221.3%
Unable to prosecute suspect44119.1%
Under investigation1667.2%
Status update unavailable823.5%
Awaiting court outcome763.3%
Local resolution281.2%
Action to be taken by another organisation200.9%
Court result unavailable190.8%
Offender given penalty notice40.2%
Further investigation is not in the public interest40.2%
Formal action is not in the public interest30.1%

Old Kent Road has an estimated population of 16,090. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Old Kent Road sits in decile 2.8, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureOld Kent Road
Aged 0 to 1518.5%
Aged 16 to 6472.6%
Aged 65 and over9.0%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage18.5%
Social rented homes61.8%
Private rented homes18.9%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)2.8

Is Old Kent Road a safe place to live?

Old Kent Road recorded 143.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Old Kent Road?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 568 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (492).

Is crime in Old Kent Road going up or down?

Recorded crime in Old Kent Road was up 3% on the year before: 2,312 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,237 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Old Kent Road?

Old Kent Road is policed by Metropolitan Police. 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 Old Kent Road. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.

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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/old-kent-road">https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/old-kent-road</a>