Crime in Rochester West & Borstal: statistics, rates and trends
1,677 crimes were recorded in Rochester West & Borstal in the 12 months to July 2026, 128.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 18% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Rochester West & Borstal at a glance
- Crime trends in Rochester West & Borstal
- Types of crime in Rochester West & Borstal
- Rochester West & Borstal compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Rochester West & Borstal
- What happened after crimes were reported in Rochester West & Borstal
- Population and deprivation in Rochester West & Borstal
- Questions about crime in Rochester West & Borstal
- About this data
1,677 crimes were recorded in Rochester West & Borstal in the 12 months to July 2026, 128.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 18% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 631 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Rochester West & Borstal has the 711th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Rochester West & Borstal | Medway | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,677 | 29,852 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 128.0 | 102.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -18% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 13,101 | 292,655 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Rochester West & Borstal was highest in the year to July 2019 (4,666 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,677). Over the whole period it fell 62%, 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 | 1,677 | 128.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,047 | 156.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,196 | 167.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 3,694 | 282.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 4,134 | 315.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 3,625 | 276.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 4,565 | 348.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 4,666 | 356.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 4,452 | 339.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 192 |
| June 2026 | 148 |
| May 2026 | 154 |
| April 2026 | 126 |
| March 2026 | 124 |
| February 2026 | 127 |
| January 2026 | 121 |
| December 2025 | 135 |
| November 2025 | 120 |
| October 2025 | 140 |
| September 2025 | 139 |
| August 2025 | 151 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Rochester West & Borstal 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.
The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-50%) and vehicle crime (-44%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 631 | 48.2 | 1.41 | -16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 379 | 28.9 | 1.89 | -2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 136 | 10.4 | 1.53 | -12% |
| Other theft | 95 | 7.3 | 1.13 | -17% |
| Shoplifting | 88 | 6.7 | 0.81 | -30% |
| Public order | 69 | 5.3 | 0.79 | -24% |
| Drugs | 68 | 5.2 | 1.59 | -14% |
| Other crime | 64 | 4.9 | 2.31 | -42% |
| Vehicle crime | 63 | 4.8 | 0.98 | -44% |
| Burglary | 35 | 2.7 | 0.76 | -41% |
| Robbery | 14 | 1.1 | 0.79 | +75% |
| Bicycle theft | 13 | 1.0 | 1.21 | -32% |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 1.0 | 1.02 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 9 | 0.7 | 0.41 | -10% |
Violence and sexual offences in Rochester West & Borstal
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 631 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (48.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 37.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Rochester West & Borstal
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 379 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 22.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Rochester West & Borstal
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Rochester West & Borstal
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Rochester West & Borstal
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Rochester West & Borstal
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Rochester West & Borstal
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Rochester West & Borstal
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Rochester West & Borstal
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Rochester West & Borstal
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 35 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 41% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Rochester West & Borstal
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 14 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 up 75% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Rochester West & Borstal
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Rochester West & Borstal
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Rochester West & Borstal
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Rochester West & Borstal recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Rochester West & Borstal, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Rochester West & Borstal.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Rochester West & Borstal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester East & Warren Wood | 1,235 | 88.0 | -31% |
| Fort Pitt | 3,380 | 282.0 | +120% |
| Strood West | 2,035 | 116.0 | -9% |
| Chatham Central & Brompton | 3,231 | 161.1 | +26% |
| Strood North & Frindsbury | 1,093 | 74.3 | -42% |
| Fort Horsted | 408 | 73.8 | -42% |
| Luton | 1,437 | 138.8 | +8% |
| Wayfield & Weeds Wood | 1,069 | 104.4 | -18% |
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 Rochester West & Borstal over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 208 |
| On or near Sylewood Close | 102 |
| On or near Corys Road | 79 |
| On or near Blue Boar Lane | 77 |
| On or near Almon Place | 68 |
| On or near George Lane | 40 |
| On or near Eastgate | 35 |
| On or near Gundolph Square | 33 |
| On or near Mercury Close | 33 |
| On or near Belvedere Road | 31 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rochester West & Borstal 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 | 480 | 28.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 418 | 24.9% |
| Not recorded | 379 | 22.6% |
| Under investigation | 116 | 6.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 92 | 5.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 53 | 3.2% |
| Local resolution | 45 | 2.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 43 | 2.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 34 | 2.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 0.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Rochester West & Borstal has an estimated population of 13,101. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rochester West & Borstal sits in decile 5.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Rochester West & Borstal |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 58.6% |
| Social rented homes | 16.6% |
| Private rented homes | 24.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 |
Is Rochester West & Borstal a safe place to live?
Rochester West & Borstal recorded 128.0 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 Rochester West & Borstal?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 631 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (379).
Is crime in Rochester West & Borstal going up or down?
Recorded crime in Rochester West & Borstal was down 18% on the year before: 1,677 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,047 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Rochester West & Borstal?
Rochester West & Borstal 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 Rochester West & Borstal. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.