Crime in West Downs: statistics, rates and trends
257 crimes were recorded in West Downs in the 12 months to August 2026, 81.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 35% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West Downs at a glance
- Crime trends in West Downs
- Types of crime in West Downs
- West Downs compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Downs
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Downs
- Demographics of West Downs
- Questions about crime in West Downs
- About this data
Crime map
Shoplifting (91), violence and sexual offences (55) and anti-social behaviour (34) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,770th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | West Downs | Swale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 257 | 15,704 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 81.7 | 99.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +35% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 3,144 | 158,379 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in West Downs of any year here (257 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 44%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 257 | 81.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 190 | 60.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 157 | 49.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 133 | 42.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 128 | 40.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 171 | 54.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 157 | 49.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 167 | 53.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 179 | 56.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 24 |
| July 2026 | 25 |
| June 2026 | 17 |
| May 2026 | 28 |
| April 2026 | 28 |
| March 2026 | 28 |
| February 2026 | 12 |
| January 2026 | 23 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 22 |
| October 2025 | 15 |
| September 2025 | 20 |
Compared with England and Wales, West Downs recorded notably more shoplifting (3.4 times the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (49% below) and anti-social behaviour (30% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour fell from 43 to 34.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 91 | 28.9 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Violence and sexual offences | 55 | 17.5 | 34.2 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 34 | 10.8 | 15.4 | -21% |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 4.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 14 | 4.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 14 | 4.5 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 3.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 8 | 2.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than West Downs; the highest is Roman, Swale (211.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Woodstock, Swale (47.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Downs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | 311 | 47.1 | -42% |
| Roman | 1,631 | 211.7 | +159% |
| Homewood | 410 | 70.5 | -14% |
| Murston | 825 | 114.0 | +39% |
| Chalkwell | 522 | 128.8 | +58% |
| Borden and Grove Park | 347 | 57.2 | -30% |
| Milton Regis | 759 | 112.2 | +37% |
| The Meads | 359 | 64.1 | -22% |
The 10 locations below account for 84% of the crime recorded in West Downs over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Fox Hill” (147).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Fox Hill | 147 |
| On or near Lomas Road | 13 |
| On or near The Street | 11 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 9 |
| On or near Hawks Hill Lane | 7 |
| On or near Stockers Hill | 7 |
| On or near Bashford Barn Lane | 6 |
| On or near Avent Walk | 5 |
| On or near Medlar Close | 5 |
| On or near St Laurence Close | 5 |
Of the 223 crimes in West Downs with a recorded outcome, 50% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 12% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 34 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 112 | 50.2% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 48 | 21.5% | 34.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 27 | 12.1% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 14 | 6.3% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 4.0% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 2.2% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 1.3% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
West Downs has an estimated population of 3,144 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (6.4%, against 23.3%), less social housing (6.4%, against 17.1%) and fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Downs average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | West Downs | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 6.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 80.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Downs a safe place to live?
West Downs recorded 81.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,770th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in West Downs?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 91 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (55).
Is crime in West Downs going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Downs was up 35% on the year before: 257 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 190 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Downs?
About 3,144 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Downs?
West Downs is policed by Kent.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.