Crime in Kempsey: statistics, rates and trends
297 crimes were recorded in Kempsey in the 12 months to August 2026, 53.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (122), anti-social behaviour (39) and criminal damage and arson (25) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,088th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Kempsey | Malvern Hills | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 297 | 4,666 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 53.5 | 56.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 5,554 | 83,227 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Kempsey peaked in the year to August 2023 (374 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (206). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 3%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 297 | 53.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 285 | 51.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 285 | 51.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 374 | 67.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 306 | 55.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 333 | 60.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 254 | 45.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 206 | 37.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 287 | 51.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 26 |
| July 2026 | 31 |
| June 2026 | 22 |
| May 2026 | 24 |
| April 2026 | 32 |
| March 2026 | 25 |
| February 2026 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 31 |
| December 2025 | 22 |
| November 2025 | 18 |
| October 2025 | 23 |
| September 2025 | 18 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (54% below) and violence and sexual offences (36% below) were well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 122 | 22.0 | 34.2 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 39 | 7.0 | 15.4 | 0% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25 | 4.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 24 | 4.3 | 6.4 | +4% |
| Burglary | 22 | 4.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 16 | 2.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 2.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Public order | 14 | 2.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 1.6 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Kempsey; the highest is Worcester (114.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Fernhill Heath (41.7).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kempsey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | 11,934 | 114.4 | +114% |
| Great Malvern | 2,477 | 71.8 | +34% |
| Pershore | 816 | 92.6 | +73% |
| Fernhill Heath | 211 | 41.7 | -22% |
| Droitwich Spa | 1,859 | 76.0 | +42% |
| Ledbury | 548 | 55.7 | +4% |
| Evesham | 2,699 | 92.8 | +73% |
| Stourport-on-Severn | 1,190 | 62.5 | +17% |
Kempsey is the one area listed within Kempsey, with 53.5 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kempsey | Neighbourhood | 5,554 | 297 | 53.5 |
The 10 locations below account for 51% of the crime recorded in Kempsey over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Main Road” (38).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Main Road | 38 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 26 |
| On or near Taylors Lane | 15 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 13 |
| On or near Parking Area | 11 |
| On or near Brook Close | 10 |
| On or near King'S Hill | 10 |
| On or near Anglia Crescent | 9 |
| On or near Oakfield Drive | 9 |
| On or near Paddock Close | 9 |
Of the 258 crimes in Kempsey with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 39 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 107 | 41.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 65 | 25.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 44 | 17.1% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.9% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.9% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.8% | 3.1% |
Kempsey has an estimated population of 5,554 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (7.8%, against 23.3%), less private renting (9.0%, against 20.3%) and fewer students (4.5%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Kempsey average decile 6.6 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Kempsey | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 36.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 7.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 9.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Kempsey a safe place to live?
Kempsey recorded 53.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,088th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Kempsey?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 122 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (39).
Is crime in Kempsey going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kempsey was up 4% on the year before: 297 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 285 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Kempsey?
About 5,554 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Kempsey?
Kempsey is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.