Crime in Southborough: statistics, rates and trends
507 crimes were recorded in Southborough in the 12 months to August 2026, 46.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 14% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Southborough at a glance
- Crime trends in Southborough
- Types of crime in Southborough
- Southborough compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Southborough
- Streets with the most crime in Southborough
- What happened after crimes were reported in Southborough
- Demographics of Southborough
- Questions about crime in Southborough
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (195), anti-social behaviour (83) and criminal damage and arson (49) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,201st of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Southborough | Tunbridge Wells | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 507 | 8,086 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 46.9 | 67.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -14% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 10,820 | 119,694 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Southborough of any year here (507 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 43%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 507 | 46.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 588 | 54.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 673 | 62.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 684 | 63.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 753 | 69.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 912 | 84.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 923 | 85.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 792 | 73.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 897 | 82.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 48 |
| July 2026 | 55 |
| June 2026 | 44 |
| May 2026 | 47 |
| April 2026 | 56 |
| March 2026 | 40 |
| February 2026 | 41 |
| January 2026 | 32 |
| December 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 42 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| September 2025 | 32 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and vehicle crime (61% below) and shoplifting (61% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 71 to 83, while violence and sexual offences fell from 257 to 195 and other theft fell from 52 to 41.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 195 | 18.0 | 34.2 | -24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 83 | 7.7 | 15.4 | +17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 49 | 4.5 | 6.7 | -16% |
| Other theft | 41 | 3.8 | 6.4 | -21% |
| Shoplifting | 36 | 3.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Public order | 30 | 2.8 | 6.7 | -19% |
| Other crime | 21 | 1.9 | 2.1 | -16% |
| Vehicle crime | 21 | 1.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 13 | 1.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Southborough; the highest is Edenbridge (97.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Crowborough (45.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Southborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | 4,218 | 79.5 | +70% |
| Rusthall and Langton Green | 408 | 51.0 | +9% |
| Pembury | 484 | 83.4 | +78% |
| Tonbridge | 3,064 | 79.9 | +71% |
| Paddock Wood | 838 | 89.4 | +91% |
| Crowborough | 956 | 45.1 | -4% |
| Edenbridge | 787 | 97.5 | +108% |
| Sevenoaks | 1,553 | 56.6 | +21% |
Of the 2 areas within Southborough, High Brooms had the highest crime rate (71.5 per 1,000) and Southborough & Bidborough the lowest (35.3).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Brooms | Neighbourhood | 4,463 | 319 | 71.5 |
| Southborough & Bidborough | Neighbourhood | 9,415 | 332 | 35.3 |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Southborough over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “St Andrews Court” (50).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near St Andrews Court | 50 |
| On or near Stewart Road | 25 |
| On or near Hythe Close | 24 |
| On or near Salisbury Road | 22 |
| On or near North Farm Road | 18 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 17 |
| On or near High Brooms Road | 15 |
| On or near Highfield Road | 15 |
| On or near Hornbeam Avenue | 15 |
| On or near Park Road | 14 |
Of the 424 crimes in Southborough with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 83 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 175 | 41.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 146 | 34.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 35 | 8.3% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 4.7% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 1.9% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.2% | 0.6% |
Southborough has an estimated population of 10,820 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (17%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Southborough average decile 6.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Southborough | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 19.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Southborough a safe place to live?
Southborough recorded 46.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,201st of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Southborough?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 195 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (83).
Is crime in Southborough going up or down?
Recorded crime in Southborough was down 14% on the year before: 507 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 588 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Southborough?
About 10,820 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 18% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Southborough?
Southborough 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.