Crime in Sheerness, Swale: statistics, rates and trends
2,818 crimes were recorded in Sheerness, Swale in the 12 months to July 2026, 208.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Sheerness, Swale at a glance
- Crime trends in Sheerness, Swale
- Types of crime in Sheerness, Swale
- Sheerness, Swale compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Sheerness, Swale
- What happened after crimes were reported in Sheerness, Swale
- Population and deprivation in Sheerness, Swale
- Questions about crime in Sheerness, Swale
- About this data
2,818 crimes were recorded in Sheerness, Swale in the 12 months to July 2026, 208.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,001 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Sheerness, Swale has the 178th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sheerness, Swale | Swale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,818 | 15,724 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 208.8 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 13,496 | 158,379 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sheerness, Swale was highest in the year to July 2020 (3,234 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (2,627). Over the whole period it fell 9%, 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 | 2,818 | 208.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,627 | 194.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,938 | 217.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,669 | 197.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,895 | 214.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,878 | 213.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 3,234 | 239.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,836 | 210.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 3,106 | 230.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 324 |
| June 2026 | 220 |
| May 2026 | 243 |
| April 2026 | 235 |
| March 2026 | 263 |
| February 2026 | 231 |
| January 2026 | 266 |
| December 2025 | 239 |
| November 2025 | 196 |
| October 2025 | 179 |
| September 2025 | 188 |
| August 2025 | 234 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sheerness, Swale 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 increases were in shoplifting (+72%) and drugs (+58%). The largest falls were in other crime (-20%) and vehicle crime (-14%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,001 | 74.2 | 2.17 | -11% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 654 | 48.5 | 3.16 | +38% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 293 | 21.7 | 3.20 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 291 | 21.6 | 2.60 | +72% |
| Other theft | 123 | 9.1 | 1.43 | +18% |
| Public order | 114 | 8.4 | 1.27 | -4% |
| Drugs | 84 | 6.2 | 1.90 | +58% |
| Other crime | 70 | 5.2 | 2.46 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 69 | 5.1 | 1.04 | -14% |
| Burglary | 62 | 4.6 | 1.30 | -3% |
| Possession of weapons | 31 | 2.3 | 2.37 | +29% |
| Robbery | 14 | 1.0 | 0.77 | -18% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.5 | 0.63 | -59% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 0.22 | -44% |
Violence and sexual offences in Sheerness, Swale
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sheerness, Swale recorded 1,001 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (74.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 35.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sheerness, Swale
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sheerness, Swale recorded 654 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (48.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 23.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sheerness, Swale
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sheerness, Swale recorded 293 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sheerness, Swale
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sheerness, Swale recorded 291 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 72% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sheerness, Swale
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sheerness, Swale recorded 123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sheerness, Swale
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sheerness, Swale recorded 114 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sheerness, Swale
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sheerness, Swale recorded 84 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sheerness, Swale
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sheerness, Swale recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sheerness, Swale
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sheerness, Swale recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sheerness, Swale
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sheerness, Swale recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sheerness, Swale
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sheerness, Swale recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sheerness, Swale
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sheerness, Swale recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Sheerness, Swale
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sheerness, Swale recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 59% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sheerness, Swale
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sheerness, Swale recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Sheerness, Swale, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sheerness, Swale.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sheerness, Swale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queenborough and Halfway | 868 | 98.8 | -53% |
| Minster Cliffs | 551 | 65.7 | -69% |
| Sheppey Central | 731 | 77.3 | -63% |
| Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow | 247 | 43.1 | -79% |
| Kemsley | 465 | 71.2 | -66% |
| Sheppey East | 1,224 | 161.1 | -23% |
| Milton Regis | 759 | 112.2 | -46% |
| The Meads | 346 | 61.8 | -70% |
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 Sheerness, Swale over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 299 |
| On or near Supermarket | 203 |
| On or near Hare Street | 132 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 102 |
| On or near Victory Street | 100 |
| On or near Royal Road | 95 |
| On or near Richmond Street | 83 |
| On or near Alma Street | 79 |
| On or near Delamark Road | 65 |
| On or near Shrubsole Avenue | 63 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sheerness, Swale 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 | 808 | 28.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 690 | 24.5% |
| Not recorded | 654 | 23.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 184 | 6.5% |
| Under investigation | 179 | 6.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 97 | 3.4% |
| Local resolution | 75 | 2.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 68 | 2.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 25 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 21 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 15 | 0.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
Sheerness, Swale has an estimated population of 13,496. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sheerness, Swale sits in decile 1.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sheerness, Swale |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 24.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 41.2% |
| Social rented homes | 22.4% |
| Private rented homes | 36.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 100.0% |
Is Sheerness, Swale a safe place to live?
Sheerness, Swale recorded 208.8 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 Sheerness, Swale?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,001 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (654).
Is crime in Sheerness, Swale going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sheerness, Swale was up 7% on the year before: 2,818 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,627 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sheerness, Swale?
Sheerness, Swale 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 Sheerness, Swale. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.