Crime in Petts Wood & Knoll: statistics, rates and trends
643 crimes were recorded in Petts Wood & Knoll in the 12 months to July 2026, 45.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Petts Wood & Knoll at a glance
- Crime trends in Petts Wood & Knoll
- Types of crime in Petts Wood & Knoll
- Petts Wood & Knoll compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Petts Wood & Knoll
- What happened after crimes were reported in Petts Wood & Knoll
- Population and deprivation in Petts Wood & Knoll
- Questions about crime in Petts Wood & Knoll
- About this data
643 crimes were recorded in Petts Wood & Knoll in the 12 months to July 2026, 45.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 131 reports (20% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Petts Wood & Knoll has the 3,228th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Petts Wood & Knoll | Bromley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 643 | 29,229 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 45.5 | 87.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 14,140 | 335,319 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Petts Wood & Knoll was highest in the year to July 2020 (788 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (617). Over the whole period it fell 16%, 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 | 643 | 45.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 655 | 46.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 705 | 49.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 617 | 43.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 683 | 48.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 711 | 50.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 788 | 55.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 782 | 55.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 767 | 54.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 55 |
| June 2026 | 56 |
| May 2026 | 46 |
| April 2026 | 65 |
| March 2026 | 57 |
| February 2026 | 43 |
| January 2026 | 48 |
| December 2025 | 61 |
| November 2025 | 51 |
| October 2025 | 49 |
| September 2025 | 56 |
| August 2025 | 56 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Petts Wood & Knoll 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 vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in public order (+38%) and anti-social behaviour (+27%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-55%) and drugs (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 131 | 9.3 | 0.27 | +20% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 126 | 8.9 | 0.58 | +27% |
| Vehicle crime | 106 | 7.5 | 1.52 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 58 | 4.1 | 0.50 | -55% |
| Other theft | 49 | 3.5 | 0.54 | +26% |
| Burglary | 38 | 2.7 | 0.76 | -16% |
| Public order | 36 | 2.5 | 0.38 | +38% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 35 | 2.5 | 0.36 | -15% |
| Drugs | 25 | 1.8 | 0.54 | -17% |
| Robbery | 15 | 1.1 | 0.79 | -6% |
| Other crime | 10 | 0.7 | 0.33 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 8 | 0.6 | 0.69 | +167% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.4 | 0.36 | +67% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.04 | -86% |
Violence and sexual offences in Petts Wood & Knoll
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 20.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Petts Wood & Knoll
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 126 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 19.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Petts Wood & Knoll
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 106 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 16.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Petts Wood & Knoll
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Petts Wood & Knoll
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Petts Wood & Knoll
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Petts Wood & Knoll
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Petts Wood & Knoll
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Petts Wood & Knoll
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Petts Wood & Knoll
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Petts Wood & Knoll
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Petts Wood & Knoll
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 167% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Petts Wood & Knoll
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Petts Wood & Knoll
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 86% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Petts Wood & Knoll, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Petts Wood & Knoll.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Petts Wood & Knoll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farnborough & Crofton | 1,294 | 68.6 | +51% |
| St Mary Cray | 1,550 | 88.3 | +94% |
| Orpington | 1,544 | 113.1 | +149% |
| Bromley Common & Holwood | 1,256 | 72.3 | +59% |
| St Paul's Cray | 2,686 | 140.7 | +209% |
| Chelsfield | 569 | 43.7 | -4% |
| Bickley & Sundridge | 1,004 | 52.0 | +14% |
| Chislehurst | 1,056 | 65.3 | +44% |
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 Petts Wood & Knoll over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near West Approach | 61 |
| On or near Station Square | 58 |
| On or near Parking Area | 52 |
| On or near Queensway | 24 |
| On or near Ladywood Avenue | 19 |
| On or near Crofton Lane | 16 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 15 |
| On or near Eynsford Close | 15 |
| On or near Fairway | 14 |
| On or near White Hart Road | 14 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Petts Wood & Knoll 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 261 | 40.6% |
| Not recorded | 126 | 19.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 123 | 19.1% |
| Under investigation | 61 | 9.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 37 | 5.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 0.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.2% |
Petts Wood & Knoll has an estimated population of 14,140. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Petts Wood & Knoll sits in decile 9.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Petts Wood & Knoll |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 86.6% |
| Social rented homes | 3.4% |
| Private rented homes | 9.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.5 |
Is Petts Wood & Knoll a safe place to live?
Petts Wood & Knoll recorded 45.5 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 Petts Wood & Knoll?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (126).
Is crime in Petts Wood & Knoll going up or down?
Recorded crime in Petts Wood & Knoll was down 2% on the year before: 643 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 655 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Petts Wood & Knoll?
Petts Wood & Knoll 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 Petts Wood & Knoll. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.