Crime in the Kent Police area: statistics, rates and trends
175,300 crimes were recorded in the Kent Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Kent Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Kent Police area
- Types of crime in the Kent Police area
- The Kent Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Kent Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Kent Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Kent Police area
- Questions about crime in the Kent Police area
- About this data
175,300 crimes were recorded in the Kent Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 61,970 reports (35% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Kent Police area has the 20th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Kent Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 175,300 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 90.7 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 1,931,684 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Kent Police area was highest in the year to July 2018 (221,383 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (175,300). Over the whole period it fell 21%, 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 | 175,300 | 90.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 180,553 | 93.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 187,175 | 96.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 194,622 | 100.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 204,566 | 105.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 212,260 | 109.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 216,785 | 112.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 210,644 | 109.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 221,383 | 114.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 16,649 |
| June 2026 | 14,838 |
| May 2026 | 15,122 |
| April 2026 | 14,634 |
| March 2026 | 15,211 |
| February 2026 | 13,140 |
| January 2026 | 13,746 |
| December 2025 | 14,412 |
| November 2025 | 14,027 |
| October 2025 | 14,101 |
| September 2025 | 13,250 |
| August 2025 | 16,170 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Kent Police area 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 robbery (+33%) and anti-social behaviour (+24%).
The largest falls were in theft from the person (-21%) and public order (-18%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 61,970 | 32.1 | 0.94 | -10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 34,916 | 18.1 | 1.18 | +24% |
| Shoplifting | 16,416 | 8.5 | 1.03 | -2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 15,795 | 8.2 | 1.21 | -6% |
| Other theft | 11,839 | 6.1 | 0.96 | -2% |
| Vehicle crime | 7,333 | 3.8 | 0.77 | -10% |
| Public order | 6,832 | 3.5 | 0.53 | -18% |
| Drugs | 5,950 | 3.1 | 0.94 | -7% |
| Other crime | 4,982 | 2.6 | 1.22 | -8% |
| Burglary | 4,294 | 2.2 | 0.63 | -16% |
| Possession of weapons | 1,790 | 0.9 | 0.95 | +1% |
| Robbery | 1,453 | 0.8 | 0.56 | +33% |
| Bicycle theft | 1,017 | 0.5 | 0.64 | +1% |
| Theft from the person | 713 | 0.4 | 0.22 | -21% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Kent Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Kent Police area recorded 61,970 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 35.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Kent Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Kent Police area recorded 34,916 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 19.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Kent Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Kent Police area recorded 16,416 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 9.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Kent Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Kent Police area recorded 15,795 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Kent Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Kent Police area recorded 11,839 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Kent Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Kent Police area recorded 7,333 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Kent Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Kent Police area recorded 6,832 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Kent Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Kent Police area recorded 5,950 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Kent Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Kent Police area recorded 4,982 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Kent Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Kent Police area recorded 4,294 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Kent Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Kent Police area recorded 1,790 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 1% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Kent Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Kent Police area recorded 1,453 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Kent Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Kent Police area recorded 1,017 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 up 1% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Kent Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Kent Police area recorded 713 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 21% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Kent Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Kent Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Kent Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex | 163,711 | 84.8 | -7% |
| City of London | 9,805 | 648.9 | +615% |
| Metropolitan Police | 1,121,123 | 123.5 | +36% |
| Sussex | 161,306 | 91.7 | +1% |
| Surrey | 87,826 | 70.3 | -22% |
| Hertfordshire | 105,683 | 85.5 | -6% |
| Suffolk | 48,709 | 62.0 | -32% |
| Bedfordshire | 59,529 | 79.4 | -13% |
13 areas within the Kent Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Thanet had the highest rate (114.6 per 1,000) and Sevenoaks the lowest (62.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanet | District | 142,691 | 16,349 | 114.6 |
| Canterbury | District | 162,100 | 17,618 | 108.7 |
| Dartford | District | 125,011 | 13,504 | 108.0 |
| Medway | District | 292,655 | 29,852 | 102.0 |
| Swale | District | 158,379 | 15,724 | 99.3 |
| Gravesham | District | 110,671 | 10,308 | 93.1 |
| Dover | District | 119,768 | 10,455 | 87.3 |
| Maidstone | District | 187,767 | 16,230 | 86.4 |
| Folkestone and Hythe | District | 112,411 | 9,548 | 84.9 |
| Ashford | District | 140,936 | 10,803 | 76.7 |
| Tunbridge Wells | District | 119,694 | 8,081 | 67.5 |
| Tonbridge and Malling | District | 136,853 | 9,137 | 66.8 |
| Sevenoaks | District | 122,748 | 7,691 | 62.7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Kent Police area 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 | 51,056 | 29.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 50,878 | 29.0% |
| Not recorded | 34,916 | 19.9% |
| Under investigation | 10,763 | 6.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9,272 | 5.3% |
| Local resolution | 5,153 | 2.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 3,985 | 2.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 3,791 | 2.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3,263 | 1.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 1,301 | 0.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 537 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 275 | 0.2% |
The Kent Police area has an estimated population of 1,931,684. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Kent Police area sits in decile 5.4, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Kent Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.3% |
| Social rented homes | 13.6% |
| Private rented homes | 19.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.4 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 6.9% |
Is the Kent Police area a safe place to live?
The Kent Police area recorded 90.7 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 the Kent Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 61,970 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (34,916).
Is crime in the Kent Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Kent Police area was down 3% on the year before: 175,300 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 180,553 in the previous 12 months.
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 Kent Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.