Crime in Penenden Heath: statistics, rates and trends
1,214 crimes were recorded in Penenden Heath in the 12 months to July 2026, 78.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Penenden Heath at a glance
- Crime trends in Penenden Heath
- Types of crime in Penenden Heath
- Penenden Heath compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Penenden Heath
- What happened after crimes were reported in Penenden Heath
- Population and deprivation in Penenden Heath
- Questions about crime in Penenden Heath
- About this data
1,214 crimes were recorded in Penenden Heath in the 12 months to July 2026, 78.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 429 reports (35% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Penenden Heath has the 1,898th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Penenden Heath | Maidstone | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,214 | 16,230 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 78.7 | 86.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 15,420 | 187,767 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Penenden Heath was highest in the year to July 2020 (1,535 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,214). 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 | 1,214 | 78.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,288 | 83.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,443 | 93.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,453 | 94.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,398 | 90.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,472 | 95.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,535 | 99.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,441 | 93.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,376 | 89.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 97 |
| June 2026 | 122 |
| May 2026 | 106 |
| April 2026 | 120 |
| March 2026 | 103 |
| February 2026 | 87 |
| January 2026 | 117 |
| December 2025 | 98 |
| November 2025 | 107 |
| October 2025 | 86 |
| September 2025 | 78 |
| August 2025 | 93 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Penenden Heath 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 drugs, other crime.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+54%). The largest falls were in burglary (-37%) and vehicle crime (-34%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 429 | 27.8 | 0.81 | -12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 211 | 13.7 | 0.89 | +5% |
| Shoplifting | 120 | 7.8 | 0.94 | +54% |
| Other theft | 95 | 6.2 | 0.96 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 92 | 6.0 | 0.88 | -14% |
| Drugs | 69 | 4.5 | 1.37 | +5% |
| Other crime | 54 | 3.5 | 1.66 | -10% |
| Public order | 51 | 3.3 | 0.50 | -11% |
| Vehicle crime | 40 | 2.6 | 0.53 | -34% |
| Burglary | 22 | 1.4 | 0.40 | -37% |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 0.8 | 0.80 | +33% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.5 | 0.27 | -42% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.4 | 0.47 | -25% |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.4 | 0.29 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Penenden Heath
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Penenden Heath recorded 429 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 35.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Penenden Heath
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Penenden Heath recorded 211 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 17.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Penenden Heath
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Penenden Heath recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 54% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Penenden Heath
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Penenden Heath recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Penenden Heath
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Penenden Heath recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Penenden Heath
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Penenden Heath recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Penenden Heath
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Penenden Heath recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Penenden Heath
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Penenden Heath recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Penenden Heath
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Penenden Heath recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Penenden Heath
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Penenden Heath recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Penenden Heath
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Penenden Heath recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Penenden Heath
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Penenden Heath recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Penenden Heath
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Penenden Heath recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Penenden Heath
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Penenden Heath recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Penenden Heath, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Penenden Heath.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Penenden Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Street | 3,264 | 282.2 | +258% |
| Allington & Bridge | 724 | 86.1 | +9% |
| Grove Green & Vinters Park | 402 | 49.8 | -37% |
| Palace Wood | 236 | 32.2 | -59% |
| Tovil | 457 | 69.7 | -11% |
| Fant & Oakwood | 1,276 | 101.3 | +29% |
| Bearsted & Downswood | 353 | 36.3 | -54% |
| Shepway | 1,285 | 102.0 | +30% |
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 Penenden Heath over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 295 |
| On or near Mill Wood | 48 |
| On or near Prison | 48 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 47 |
| On or near Bluett Street | 36 |
| On or near Brewer Street | 36 |
| On or near Mill Lane | 35 |
| On or near Gladstone Road | 30 |
| On or near Hope Street | 26 |
| On or near Quarry Square | 26 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Penenden Heath 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 352 | 29.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 342 | 28.2% |
| Not recorded | 211 | 17.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 85 | 7.0% |
| Under investigation | 80 | 6.6% |
| Local resolution | 37 | 3.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 36 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 31 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 22 | 1.8% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Penenden Heath has an estimated population of 15,420. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Penenden Heath sits in decile 6.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Penenden Heath |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.1% |
| Social rented homes | 11.2% |
| Private rented homes | 28.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 |
Is Penenden Heath a safe place to live?
Penenden Heath recorded 78.7 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 Penenden Heath?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 429 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (211).
Is crime in Penenden Heath going up or down?
Recorded crime in Penenden Heath was down 6% on the year before: 1,214 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,288 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Penenden Heath?
Penenden Heath 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 Penenden Heath. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.