Crime in Rainham South West: statistics, rates and trends
551 crimes were recorded in Rainham South West in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Rainham South West at a glance
- Crime trends in Rainham South West
- Types of crime in Rainham South West
- Rainham South West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Rainham South West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Rainham South West
- Population and deprivation in Rainham South West
- Questions about crime in Rainham South West
- About this data
551 crimes were recorded in Rainham South West in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 183 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Rainham South West has the 2,653rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Rainham South West | Medway | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 551 | 29,852 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.7 | 102.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 9,388 | 292,655 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Rainham South West was highest in the year to July 2020 (728 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (486). 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 | 551 | 58.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 519 | 55.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 486 | 51.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 527 | 56.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 608 | 64.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 543 | 57.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 728 | 77.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 618 | 65.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 658 | 70.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 61 |
| June 2026 | 39 |
| May 2026 | 51 |
| April 2026 | 42 |
| March 2026 | 42 |
| February 2026 | 47 |
| January 2026 | 41 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 60 |
| October 2025 | 51 |
| September 2025 | 34 |
| August 2025 | 54 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Rainham South West 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. The largest increases were in other theft (+135%) and shoplifting (+46%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-20%) and violence and sexual offences (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 183 | 19.5 | 0.57 | -15% |
| Shoplifting | 83 | 8.8 | 1.07 | +46% |
| Other theft | 73 | 7.8 | 1.22 | +135% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 71 | 7.6 | 0.49 | -20% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 39 | 4.2 | 0.61 | -2% |
| Public order | 24 | 2.6 | 0.38 | +4% |
| Vehicle crime | 24 | 2.6 | 0.52 | +41% |
| Burglary | 19 | 2.0 | 0.57 | +73% |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.3 | 0.61 | +50% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.2 | 0.36 | +10% |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.6 | 0.47 | +20% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.39 | -40% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 0.22 | -60% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.06 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Rainham South West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rainham South West recorded 183 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 33.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Rainham South West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rainham South West recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 46% on the year before. It made up 15.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Rainham South West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rainham South West recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 135% on the year before. It made up 13.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Rainham South West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rainham South West recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 12.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Rainham South West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rainham South West recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Rainham South West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rainham South West recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Rainham South West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rainham South West recorded 24 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 up 41% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Rainham South West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rainham South West recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 73% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Rainham South West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rainham South West recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Rainham South West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rainham South West recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Rainham South West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rainham South West recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Rainham South West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rainham South West recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Rainham South West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rainham South West recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Rainham South West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Rainham South West 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 50% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Rainham South West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Rainham South West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Rainham South West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainham North | 960 | 64.5 | +10% |
| Rainham South East | 673 | 49.2 | -16% |
| Twydall | 704 | 77.7 | +32% |
| Hempstead & Wigmore | 499 | 51.9 | -12% |
| Watling | 1,961 | 122.4 | +109% |
| Luton | 1,437 | 138.8 | +137% |
| Princes Park | 644 | 63.2 | +8% |
| Gillingham South | 3,144 | 183.0 | +212% |
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 Rainham South West over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 105 |
| On or near Parking Area | 52 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 43 |
| On or near Crabtree Road | 22 |
| On or near Derwent Way | 22 |
| On or near Henley Close | 20 |
| On or near A2 | 19 |
| On or near Kendal Way | 19 |
| On or near Church Mews | 12 |
| On or near Beacon Close | 10 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rainham South West 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 | 199 | 36.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 156 | 28.3% |
| Not recorded | 71 | 12.9% |
| Under investigation | 43 | 7.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 28 | 5.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 2.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 1.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.5% |
Rainham South West has an estimated population of 9,388. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rainham South West sits in decile 7.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Rainham South West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 83.8% |
| Social rented homes | 6.4% |
| Private rented homes | 9.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.9 |
Is Rainham South West a safe place to live?
Rainham South West recorded 58.7 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 Rainham South West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 183 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (83).
Is crime in Rainham South West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Rainham South West was up 6% on the year before: 551 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 519 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Rainham South West?
Rainham South West 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 Rainham South West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.