Crime in Hawkhurst: statistics, rates and trends
290 crimes were recorded in Hawkhurst in the 12 months to July 2026, 55.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Hawkhurst at a glance
- Crime trends in Hawkhurst
- Types of crime in Hawkhurst
- Hawkhurst compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Hawkhurst
- Streets with the most crime in Hawkhurst
- What happened after crimes were reported in Hawkhurst
- Population and deprivation in Hawkhurst
- Questions about crime in Hawkhurst
- About this data
290 crimes were recorded in Hawkhurst in the 12 months to July 2026, 55.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 103 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Hawkhurst has the 1,049th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Hawkhurst | Tunbridge Wells | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 290 | 8,081 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 55.7 | 67.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 5,202 | 119,694 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Hawkhurst was highest in the year to July 2023 (386 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (279). Over the whole period it fell 16%, 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 | 290 | 55.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 279 | 53.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 354 | 68.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 386 | 74.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 321 | 61.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 346 | 66.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 369 | 70.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 373 | 71.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 347 | 66.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 21 |
| June 2026 | 19 |
| May 2026 | 32 |
| April 2026 | 25 |
| March 2026 | 20 |
| February 2026 | 14 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 23 |
| November 2025 | 20 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
| August 2025 | 29 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Hawkhurst 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 anti-social behaviour (+59%).
The largest falls were in violence and sexual offences (-16%) and criminal damage and arson (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 103 | 19.8 | 0.58 | -16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 51 | 9.8 | 0.64 | +59% |
| Shoplifting | 39 | 7.5 | 0.90 | +117% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 33 | 6.3 | 0.94 | -11% |
| Other theft | 18 | 3.5 | 0.54 | -10% |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 2.3 | 0.47 | -8% |
| Burglary | 11 | 2.1 | 0.60 | +22% |
| Public order | 10 | 1.9 | 0.29 | -23% |
| Drugs | 4 | 0.8 | 0.24 | -20% |
| Other crime | 4 | 0.8 | 0.36 | -33% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.4 | 0.40 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.4 | 0.23 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.14 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Hawkhurst
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Hawkhurst recorded 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 35.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Hawkhurst
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Hawkhurst recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 59% on the year before. It made up 17.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Hawkhurst
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Hawkhurst recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 117% on the year before. It made up 13.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Hawkhurst
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Hawkhurst recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 11.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Hawkhurst
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Hawkhurst recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Hawkhurst
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Hawkhurst recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Hawkhurst
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Hawkhurst recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Hawkhurst
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Hawkhurst recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Hawkhurst
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Hawkhurst recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Hawkhurst
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Hawkhurst recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Hawkhurst
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Hawkhurst recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Hawkhurst
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Hawkhurst recorded 2 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Hawkhurst
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Hawkhurst recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Hawkhurst, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Hawkhurst.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hawkhurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenterden | 521 | 69.5 | +25% |
| Staplehurst | 471 | 61.7 | +11% |
| Paddock Wood | 841 | 89.8 | +61% |
| Pembury | 479 | 82.5 | +48% |
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | 4,213 | 79.4 | +42% |
| Heathfield (Wealden) | 365 | 44.0 | -21% |
| Hastings | 13,034 | 142.9 | +156% |
| Coxheath | 621 | 58.8 | +5% |
1 areas within Hawkhurst, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden had the highest rate (45.5 per 1,000) and Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden the lowest (45.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden | Neighbourhood | 8,963 | 408 | 45.5 |
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 Hawkhurst over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 39 |
| On or near Bus/Coach Station | 17 |
| On or near Herschel Place | 15 |
| On or near White'S Lane | 10 |
| On or near Dickens Way | 9 |
| On or near Heartenoak Road | 9 |
| On or near Copthall Avenue | 8 |
| On or near Limes Grove | 8 |
| On or near Mercers | 8 |
| On or near Parking Area | 8 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Hawkhurst 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 | 98 | 33.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 92 | 31.7% |
| Not recorded | 51 | 17.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 4.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 3.8% |
| Under investigation | 10 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
Hawkhurst has an estimated population of 5,202. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Hawkhurst sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Hawkhurst |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.9% |
| Social rented homes | 15.5% |
| Private rented homes | 15.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
Is Hawkhurst a safe place to live?
Hawkhurst recorded 55.7 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 Hawkhurst?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (51).
Is crime in Hawkhurst going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hawkhurst was up 4% on the year before: 290 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 279 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Hawkhurst?
Hawkhurst 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 Hawkhurst. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.