Crime in Tonbridge: statistics, rates and trends

2,983 crimes were recorded in Tonbridge in the 12 months to July 2026, 77.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 958 reports (32% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Tonbridge has the 655th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Tonbridge was highest in the year to July 2018 (3,947 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (2,950). 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Tonbridge 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. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+38%) and drugs (+19%).

The largest falls were in other crime (-25%) and vehicle crime (-15%).

Violence and sexual offences in Tonbridge

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Tonbridge recorded 958 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 32.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Tonbridge

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Tonbridge recorded 570 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 19.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Tonbridge

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Tonbridge recorded 395 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 13.2% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Tonbridge

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Tonbridge recorded 308 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Tonbridge

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Tonbridge recorded 176 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Tonbridge

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Tonbridge recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Tonbridge

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Tonbridge recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Tonbridge

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Tonbridge recorded 105 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Tonbridge

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Tonbridge recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Tonbridge

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Tonbridge recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Tonbridge

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Tonbridge recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Tonbridge

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Tonbridge recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Tonbridge

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Tonbridge recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Tonbridge

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Tonbridge recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Tonbridge, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Tonbridge.

5 areas within Tonbridge, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Judd had the highest rate (122.9 per 1,000) and Higham the lowest (28.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Tonbridge over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Tonbridge 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.

Tonbridge has an estimated population of 38,327. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Tonbridge sits in decile 7.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Tonbridge. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.