Crime in Otford and Kemsing: statistics, rates and trends
275 crimes were recorded in Otford and Kemsing in the 12 months to August 2026, 36.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Otford and Kemsing at a glance
- Crime trends in Otford and Kemsing
- Types of crime in Otford and Kemsing
- Otford and Kemsing compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Otford and Kemsing
- Streets with the most crime in Otford and Kemsing
- What happened after crimes were reported in Otford and Kemsing
- Demographics of Otford and Kemsing
- Questions about crime in Otford and Kemsing
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (77), anti-social behaviour (56) and other theft (32) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,327th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Otford and Kemsing | Sevenoaks | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 275 | 7,699 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 36.8 | 62.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -13% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 7,468 | 122,748 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Otford and Kemsing of any year here (275 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 45%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 275 | 36.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 316 | 42.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 339 | 45.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 327 | 43.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 332 | 44.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 397 | 53.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 491 | 65.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 490 | 65.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 500 | 67.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 25 |
| July 2026 | 32 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| April 2026 | 24 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| February 2026 | 22 |
| January 2026 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 22 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 12 |
| September 2025 | 15 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (70% below) and anti-social behaviour (51% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 34 to 56, while vehicle crime fell from 43 to 27 and violence and sexual offences fell from 98 to 77.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 77 | 10.3 | 34.2 | -21% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 56 | 7.5 | 15.4 | +65% |
| Other theft | 32 | 4.3 | 6.4 | +10% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 3.6 | 5.0 | -37% |
| Burglary | 19 | 2.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 18 | 2.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 18 | 2.4 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Other crime | 13 | 1.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Public order | 7 | 0.9 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Drugs | 1 | 0.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest towns has a higher crime rate than Otford and Kemsing.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Otford and Kemsing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sevenoaks | 1,553 | 56.6 | +54% |
| West Kingsdown | 365 | 59.1 | +60% |
| Borough Green | 269 | 43.0 | +17% |
| Swanley | 1,676 | 90.3 | +145% |
| Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley | 1,034 | 60.3 | +64% |
| Tonbridge | 3,064 | 79.9 | +117% |
| Kings Hill | 494 | 49.1 | +33% |
| Dartford | 7,106 | 98.0 | +166% |
Of the 2 areas within Otford and Kemsing, Otford and Shoreham had the highest crime rate (48.5 per 1,000) and Kemsing the lowest (29.0).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otford and Shoreham | Neighbourhood | 4,664 | 226 | 48.5 |
| Kemsing | Neighbourhood | 4,314 | 125 | 29.0 |
The 10 locations below account for 45% of the crime recorded in Otford and Kemsing over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (22).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 22 |
| On or near Sevenoaks Road | 18 |
| On or near Park Lane | 14 |
| On or near Noah'S Ark | 12 |
| On or near The Charne | 11 |
| On or near Norman Close | 10 |
| On or near Pilgrims' Way | 10 |
| On or near Sherborne Grove | 9 |
| On or near Shoreham Road | 9 |
| On or near Otford | 8 |
Of the 219 crimes in Otford and Kemsing with a recorded outcome, 47% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 56 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 102 | 46.6% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 62 | 28.3% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 23 | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 6.8% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.4% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.9% | 0.5% |
Otford and Kemsing has an estimated population of 7,468 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less private renting (7.4%, against 20.3%), fewer households without a car (8.6%, against 23.3%) and less social housing (9.5%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Otford and Kemsing average decile 8.3 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Otford and Kemsing | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 40.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 83.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 7.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Otford and Kemsing a safe place to live?
Otford and Kemsing recorded 36.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,327th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Otford and Kemsing?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 77 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (56).
Is crime in Otford and Kemsing going up or down?
Recorded crime in Otford and Kemsing was down 13% on the year before: 275 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 316 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Otford and Kemsing?
About 7,468 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Otford and Kemsing?
Otford and Kemsing 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.