Crime in Pembury: statistics, rates and trends
484 crimes were recorded in Pembury in the 12 months to August 2026, 83.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 26% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (232), anti-social behaviour (100) and criminal damage and arson (38) made up 76% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 558th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Pembury | Tunbridge Wells | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 484 | 8,086 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 83.4 | 67.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +26% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 5,805 | 119,694 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Pembury peaked in the year to August 2019 (535 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (385). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 4%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 484 | 83.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 385 | 66.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 492 | 84.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 513 | 88.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 533 | 91.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 485 | 83.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 454 | 78.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 535 | 92.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 506 | 87.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 33 |
| July 2026 | 52 |
| June 2026 | 32 |
| May 2026 | 38 |
| April 2026 | 36 |
| March 2026 | 53 |
| February 2026 | 53 |
| January 2026 | 44 |
| December 2025 | 73 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 24 |
| September 2025 | 17 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and other theft (23% below) was well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 37 to 100 and public order rose from 27 to 34.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 232 | 40.0 | 34.2 | +20% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 100 | 17.2 | 15.4 | +170% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 38 | 6.5 | 6.7 | +23% |
| Public order | 34 | 5.9 | 6.7 | +26% |
| Other theft | 29 | 5.0 | 6.4 | +7% |
| Vehicle crime | 14 | 2.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 13 | 2.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 4 | 0.7 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Pembury; the highest is Paddock Wood (89.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Crowborough (45.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Pembury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | 4,218 | 79.5 | -5% |
| Southborough | 507 | 46.9 | -44% |
| Paddock Wood | 838 | 89.4 | +7% |
| Tonbridge | 3,064 | 79.9 | -4% |
| Rusthall and Langton Green | 408 | 51.0 | -39% |
| Kings Hill | 494 | 49.1 | -41% |
| Crowborough | 956 | 45.1 | -46% |
| Staplehurst | 468 | 61.3 | -27% |
Pembury & Capel is the one area listed within Pembury, with 73.2 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembury & Capel | Neighbourhood | 8,256 | 604 | 73.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 70% of the crime recorded in Pembury over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (165).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 165 |
| On or near The Mews | 74 |
| On or near Supermarket | 18 |
| On or near Snipe Close | 16 |
| On or near Belfield Road | 15 |
| On or near Chestnut Walk | 13 |
| On or near Canterbury Road | 11 |
| On or near Bulls Place | 10 |
| On or near Amhurst Bank Road | 9 |
| On or near Hastings Road | 8 |
Of the 384 crimes in Pembury with a recorded outcome, 22% 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 100 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 197 | 51.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 86 | 22.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 39 | 10.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 6.8% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 13 | 3.4% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
Pembury has an estimated population of 5,805 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%), less private renting (11%, against 20%) and an older population (26%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Pembury average decile 7.0 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Pembury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Pembury a safe place to live?
Pembury recorded 83.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 558th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Pembury?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 232 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (100).
Is crime in Pembury going up or down?
Recorded crime in Pembury was up 26% on the year before: 484 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 385 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Pembury?
About 5,805 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 26% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Pembury?
Pembury 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.