Crime in Swanley: statistics, rates and trends
1,654 crimes were recorded in Swanley in the 12 months to July 2026, 89.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Swanley at a glance
- Crime trends in Swanley
- Types of crime in Swanley
- Swanley compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Swanley
- Streets with the most crime in Swanley
- What happened after crimes were reported in Swanley
- Population and deprivation in Swanley
- Questions about crime in Swanley
- About this data
1,654 crimes were recorded in Swanley in the 12 months to July 2026, 89.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 560 reports (34% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Swanley has the 493rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Swanley | Sevenoaks | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,654 | 7,691 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 89.1 | 62.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 18,563 | 122,748 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Swanley was highest in the year to July 2018 (2,178 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,628). Over the whole period it fell 24%, 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 | 1,654 | 89.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,628 | 87.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,912 | 103.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,145 | 115.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,159 | 116.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,169 | 116.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,106 | 113.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,968 | 106.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,178 | 117.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 138 |
| June 2026 | 145 |
| May 2026 | 177 |
| April 2026 | 127 |
| March 2026 | 154 |
| February 2026 | 122 |
| January 2026 | 119 |
| December 2025 | 139 |
| November 2025 | 131 |
| October 2025 | 143 |
| September 2025 | 121 |
| August 2025 | 138 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Swanley 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. Rates were well above the national level for drugs, other crime.
The largest increases were in drugs (+55%) and shoplifting (+26%). The largest falls were in public order (-34%) and other theft (-13%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 560 | 30.2 | 0.88 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 326 | 17.6 | 1.14 | +10% |
| Shoplifting | 165 | 8.9 | 1.07 | +26% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 136 | 7.3 | 1.08 | -12% |
| Other theft | 97 | 5.2 | 0.82 | -13% |
| Vehicle crime | 89 | 4.8 | 0.97 | +11% |
| Drugs | 85 | 4.6 | 1.40 | +55% |
| Public order | 57 | 3.1 | 0.46 | -34% |
| Other crime | 52 | 2.8 | 1.33 | -2% |
| Burglary | 38 | 2.0 | 0.58 | -10% |
| Robbery | 22 | 1.2 | 0.88 | +340% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.1 | 1.11 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.3 | 0.33 | +25% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.1 | 0.06 | -60% |
Violence and sexual offences in Swanley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Swanley recorded 560 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 33.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Swanley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Swanley recorded 326 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 19.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Swanley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Swanley recorded 165 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Swanley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Swanley recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Swanley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Swanley recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Swanley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Swanley recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Swanley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Swanley recorded 85 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 55% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Swanley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Swanley recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Swanley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Swanley recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Swanley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Swanley recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Swanley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Swanley recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 340% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Swanley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Swanley recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Swanley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Swanley recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Swanley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Swanley recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Swanley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Swanley.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Swanley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartford | 7,168 | 98.9 | +11% |
| Bexley | 20,071 | 78.3 | -12% |
| West Kingsdown | 387 | 62.6 | -30% |
| Stone (Dartford) | 387 | 71.9 | -19% |
| Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley | 1,068 | 62.3 | -30% |
| Bromley | 28,632 | 88.0 | -1% |
| Otford and Kemsing | 264 | 35.4 | -60% |
| Swanscombe | 1,501 | 94.1 | +6% |
3 areas within Swanley, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Swanley St Mary's had the highest rate (136.9 per 1,000) and Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village the lowest (60.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swanley St Mary's | Neighbourhood | 5,091 | 697 | 136.9 |
| Swanley White Oak | Neighbourhood | 6,858 | 559 | 81.5 |
| Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village | Neighbourhood | 6,614 | 398 | 60.2 |
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 Swanley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 107 |
| On or near Parking Area | 105 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 72 |
| On or near Bartholomew Way | 70 |
| On or near Lilac Gardens | 65 |
| On or near Cherry Avenue | 56 |
| On or near Bevan Place | 54 |
| On or near Sprucedale Close | 41 |
| On or near Whitecroft | 32 |
| On or near The Birches | 28 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Swanley 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 488 | 29.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 402 | 24.3% |
| Not recorded | 326 | 19.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 117 | 7.1% |
| Under investigation | 116 | 7.0% |
| Local resolution | 54 | 3.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 45 | 2.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 40 | 2.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 24 | 1.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 19 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 14 | 0.8% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.4% |
Swanley has an estimated population of 18,563. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Swanley sits in decile 4.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Swanley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.4% |
| Social rented homes | 25.6% |
| Private rented homes | 9.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 10.2% |
Is Swanley a safe place to live?
Swanley recorded 89.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Swanley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 560 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (326).
Is crime in Swanley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Swanley was up 2% on the year before: 1,654 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,628 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Swanley?
Swanley 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 Swanley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.