Crime in The Meads: statistics, rates and trends
346 crimes were recorded in The Meads in the 12 months to July 2026, 61.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 27% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in The Meads at a glance
- Crime trends in The Meads
- Types of crime in The Meads
- The Meads compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in The Meads
- What happened after crimes were reported in The Meads
- Population and deprivation in The Meads
- Questions about crime in The Meads
- About this data
346 crimes were recorded in The Meads in the 12 months to July 2026, 61.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 27% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 129 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, The Meads has the 2,522nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | The Meads | Swale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 346 | 15,724 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 61.8 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -27% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 5,601 | 158,379 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in The Meads was highest in the year to July 2018 (954 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (346). Over the whole period it fell 64%, 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 | 346 | 61.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 472 | 84.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 554 | 98.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 726 | 129.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 673 | 120.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 758 | 135.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 892 | 159.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 891 | 159.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 954 | 170.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 41 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 32 |
| April 2026 | 29 |
| March 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 38 |
| December 2025 | 22 |
| November 2025 | 32 |
| October 2025 | 18 |
| September 2025 | 17 |
| August 2025 | 35 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in The Meads 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 possession of weapons.
The largest increases were in other theft (+30%). The largest falls were in drugs (-64%) and shoplifting (-53%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 129 | 23.0 | 0.67 | -28% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 58 | 10.4 | 0.68 | -13% |
| Other theft | 30 | 5.4 | 0.84 | +30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 28 | 5.0 | 0.74 | -46% |
| Shoplifting | 28 | 5.0 | 0.60 | -53% |
| Vehicle crime | 19 | 3.4 | 0.69 | -10% |
| Other crime | 14 | 2.5 | 1.18 | -12% |
| Public order | 11 | 2.0 | 0.30 | -15% |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.6 | 0.49 | -64% |
| Burglary | 7 | 1.2 | 0.35 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 1.2 | 1.29 | +40% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.9 | 0.66 | +67% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.22 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in The Meads
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Meads recorded 129 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 37.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in The Meads
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Meads recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 16.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in The Meads
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Meads recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in The Meads
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Meads recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 46% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in The Meads
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Meads recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 53% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in The Meads
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Meads recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in The Meads
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Meads recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in The Meads
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Meads recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in The Meads
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Meads recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 64% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in The Meads
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Meads recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in The Meads
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Meads recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in The Meads
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Meads recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in The Meads
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Meads recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 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 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to The Meads, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to The Meads.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs The Meads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalkwell | 509 | 125.6 | +103% |
| Borden and Grove Park | 345 | 56.8 | -8% |
| Milton Regis | 759 | 112.2 | +82% |
| Homewood | 411 | 70.7 | +14% |
| Kemsley | 465 | 71.2 | +15% |
| Woodstock | 306 | 46.4 | -25% |
| Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow | 247 | 43.1 | -30% |
| Roman | 1,622 | 210.5 | +241% |
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 The Meads over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Sheppey Way | 47 |
| On or near Quinton Road | 28 |
| On or near Spinel Close | 27 |
| On or near Quartz Way | 22 |
| On or near Anatase Close | 17 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 16 |
| On or near Knightsfield Road | 15 |
| On or near Ledger Close | 13 |
| On or near Cold Harbour Lane | 11 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 10 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in The Meads 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 | 111 | 32.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 88 | 25.4% |
| Not recorded | 58 | 16.8% |
| Under investigation | 34 | 9.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 22 | 6.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 2.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 1.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
The Meads has an estimated population of 5,601. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in The Meads sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | The Meads |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 24.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 74.4% |
| Social rented homes | 8.0% |
| Private rented homes | 17.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 |
Is The Meads a safe place to live?
The Meads recorded 61.8 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 The Meads?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 129 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (58).
Is crime in The Meads going up or down?
Recorded crime in The Meads was down 27% on the year before: 346 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 472 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers The Meads?
The Meads 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 The Meads. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.