Crime in St Mary Cray: statistics, rates and trends
1,550 crimes were recorded in St Mary Cray in the 12 months to July 2026, 88.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St Mary Cray at a glance
- Crime trends in St Mary Cray
- Types of crime in St Mary Cray
- St Mary Cray compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St Mary Cray
- What happened after crimes were reported in St Mary Cray
- Population and deprivation in St Mary Cray
- Questions about crime in St Mary Cray
- About this data
1,550 crimes were recorded in St Mary Cray in the 12 months to July 2026, 88.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 419 reports (27% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St Mary Cray has the 1,547th highest crime rate.
| Measure | St Mary Cray | Bromley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,550 | 29,229 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 88.3 | 87.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 17,549 | 335,319 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St Mary Cray was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,734 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,512). Over the whole period it rose 1%, 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 | 1,550 | 88.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,619 | 92.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,512 | 86.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,531 | 87.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,650 | 94.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,734 | 98.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,676 | 95.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,572 | 89.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,528 | 87.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 153 |
| June 2026 | 127 |
| May 2026 | 116 |
| April 2026 | 110 |
| March 2026 | 130 |
| February 2026 | 112 |
| January 2026 | 113 |
| December 2025 | 118 |
| November 2025 | 153 |
| October 2025 | 126 |
| September 2025 | 132 |
| August 2025 | 160 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St Mary Cray 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, drugs.
The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+31%) and other theft (+14%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-43%) and robbery (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 419 | 23.9 | 0.70 | -9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 282 | 16.1 | 1.05 | +0% |
| Vehicle crime | 242 | 13.8 | 2.80 | +31% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 98 | 5.6 | 0.82 | -43% |
| Public order | 97 | 5.5 | 0.83 | +14% |
| Other theft | 96 | 5.5 | 0.86 | +14% |
| Shoplifting | 89 | 5.1 | 0.61 | -22% |
| Drugs | 73 | 4.2 | 1.27 | -26% |
| Burglary | 68 | 3.9 | 1.10 | +6% |
| Other crime | 25 | 1.4 | 0.67 | +4% |
| Robbery | 20 | 1.1 | 0.84 | -31% |
| Theft from the person | 19 | 1.1 | 0.64 | +73% |
| Possession of weapons | 15 | 0.9 | 0.88 | +36% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.4 | 0.48 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in St Mary Cray
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St Mary Cray recorded 419 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 27.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St Mary Cray
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St Mary Cray recorded 282 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 18.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St Mary Cray
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St Mary Cray recorded 242 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 31% on the year before. It made up 15.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St Mary Cray
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St Mary Cray recorded 98 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St Mary Cray
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St Mary Cray recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St Mary Cray
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St Mary Cray recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in St Mary Cray
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St Mary Cray recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St Mary Cray
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St Mary Cray recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St Mary Cray
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St Mary Cray recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St Mary Cray
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St Mary Cray recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St Mary Cray
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St Mary Cray recorded 20 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 31% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in St Mary Cray
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St Mary Cray recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 73% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St Mary Cray
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St Mary Cray recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St Mary Cray
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St Mary Cray recorded 7 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St Mary Cray, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St Mary Cray.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St Mary Cray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orpington | 1,544 | 113.1 | +28% |
| St Paul's Cray | 2,686 | 140.7 | +59% |
| Petts Wood & Knoll | 643 | 45.5 | -49% |
| Farnborough & Crofton | 1,294 | 68.6 | -22% |
| Chelsfield | 569 | 43.7 | -50% |
| Chislehurst | 1,056 | 65.3 | -26% |
| Bromley Common & Holwood | 1,256 | 72.3 | -18% |
| Bickley & Sundridge | 1,004 | 52.0 | -41% |
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 St Mary Cray over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 114 |
| On or near High Street | 41 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 40 |
| On or near Hythe Close | 39 |
| On or near Meath Close | 38 |
| On or near Sarre Road | 31 |
| On or near Harbledown Place | 29 |
| On or near Elmcroft Road | 26 |
| On or near Brow Close | 26 |
| On or near Hodson Crescent | 25 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St Mary Cray 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 | 550 | 35.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 337 | 21.7% |
| Not recorded | 282 | 18.2% |
| Under investigation | 180 | 11.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 86 | 5.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 49 | 3.2% |
| Local resolution | 25 | 1.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 2 | 0.1% |
St Mary Cray has an estimated population of 17,549. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St Mary Cray sits in decile 5.4, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St Mary Cray |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.7% |
| Private rented homes | 12.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.4 |
Is St Mary Cray a safe place to live?
St Mary Cray recorded 88.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 St Mary Cray?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 419 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (282).
Is crime in St Mary Cray going up or down?
Recorded crime in St Mary Cray was down 4% on the year before: 1,550 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,619 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St Mary Cray?
St Mary Cray 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 St Mary Cray. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.