Crime in Watling, Swale: statistics, rates and trends
393 crimes were recorded in Watling, Swale in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 20% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Watling, Swale at a glance
- Crime trends in Watling, Swale
- Types of crime in Watling, Swale
- Watling, Swale compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Watling, Swale
- What happened after crimes were reported in Watling, Swale
- Population and deprivation in Watling, Swale
- Questions about crime in Watling, Swale
- About this data
393 crimes were recorded in Watling, Swale in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 20% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 123 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Watling, Swale has the 2,668th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Watling, Swale | Swale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 393 | 15,724 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.3 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -20% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 6,744 | 158,379 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Watling, Swale was highest in the year to July 2021 (527 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (393). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 | 393 | 58.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 492 | 73.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 479 | 71.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 475 | 70.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 496 | 73.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 527 | 78.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 465 | 69.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 506 | 75.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 441 | 65.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 40 |
| June 2026 | 31 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 23 |
| March 2026 | 29 |
| February 2026 | 22 |
| January 2026 | 30 |
| December 2025 | 36 |
| November 2025 | 43 |
| October 2025 | 33 |
| September 2025 | 31 |
| August 2025 | 44 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Watling, 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. The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+33%).
The largest falls were in other theft (-45%) and anti-social behaviour (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 123 | 18.2 | 0.53 | -24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 88 | 13.0 | 0.85 | -28% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 39 | 5.8 | 0.85 | -25% |
| Vehicle crime | 32 | 4.7 | 0.96 | +33% |
| Public order | 23 | 3.4 | 0.51 | +28% |
| Other theft | 21 | 3.1 | 0.49 | -45% |
| Burglary | 18 | 2.7 | 0.75 | -25% |
| Other crime | 17 | 2.5 | 1.19 | +13% |
| Drugs | 14 | 2.1 | 0.63 | +27% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.9 | 0.92 | -33% |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 0.9 | 0.11 | -62% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.4 | 0.54 | +50% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.4 | 0.33 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Watling, Swale
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Watling, Swale recorded 123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 31.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Watling, Swale
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Watling, Swale recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 22.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Watling, Swale
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Watling, Swale recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Watling, Swale
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Watling, Swale recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Watling, Swale
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Watling, Swale recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 28% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Watling, Swale
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Watling, Swale recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Watling, Swale
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Watling, Swale recorded 18 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 25% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Watling, Swale
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Watling, Swale recorded 17 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 up 13% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Watling, Swale
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Watling, Swale recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Watling, Swale
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Watling, Swale recorded 6 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 down 33% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Watling, Swale
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Watling, Swale recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Watling, Swale
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Watling, Swale recorded 3 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 up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Watling, Swale
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Watling, Swale recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Watling, Swale, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Watling, Swale.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Watling, Swale |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Ann's | 458 | 85.3 | +46% |
| Abbey | 872 | 124.5 | +114% |
| Priory | 386 | 112.6 | +93% |
| Boughton and Courtenay | 260 | 43.7 | -25% |
| Teynham and Lynsted | 566 | 78.8 | +35% |
| Murston | 819 | 113.2 | +94% |
| West Downs | 245 | 77.9 | +34% |
| Roman | 1,622 | 210.5 | +261% |
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 Watling, Swale over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Bensted Grove | 40 |
| On or near Lewis Close | 30 |
| On or near Sumpter Way | 28 |
| On or near Costard Drive | 25 |
| On or near Willow Avenue | 18 |
| On or near Beaumont Davy Close | 15 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 15 |
| On or near Hilton Close | 14 |
| On or near Codling Drive | 12 |
| On or near A251 | 11 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Watling, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 108 | 27.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 105 | 26.7% |
| Not recorded | 88 | 22.4% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 8.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 4.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 12 | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 1.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
Watling, Swale has an estimated population of 6,744. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Watling, Swale sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Watling, Swale |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.1% |
| Social rented homes | 16.5% |
| Private rented homes | 11.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 |
Is Watling, Swale a safe place to live?
Watling, Swale recorded 58.3 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 Watling, Swale?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (88).
Is crime in Watling, Swale going up or down?
Recorded crime in Watling, Swale was down 20% on the year before: 393 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 492 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Watling, Swale?
Watling, 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 Watling, Swale. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.