Crime in West Kingsdown: statistics, rates and trends
365 crimes were recorded in West Kingsdown in the 12 months to August 2026, 59.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West Kingsdown at a glance
- Crime trends in West Kingsdown
- Types of crime in West Kingsdown
- West Kingsdown compared with nearby towns
- Areas within West Kingsdown
- Streets with the most crime in West Kingsdown
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Kingsdown
- Demographics of West Kingsdown
- Questions about crime in West Kingsdown
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (121), anti-social behaviour (54) and other theft (52) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 976th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | West Kingsdown | Sevenoaks | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 365 | 7,699 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 59.1 | 62.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 6,178 | 122,748 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in West Kingsdown peaked in the year to August 2018 (527 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (352). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 31%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 365 | 59.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 352 | 57.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 399 | 64.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 472 | 76.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 402 | 65.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 491 | 79.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 475 | 76.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 380 | 61.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 527 | 85.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 25 |
| July 2026 | 42 |
| June 2026 | 32 |
| May 2026 | 19 |
| April 2026 | 23 |
| March 2026 | 36 |
| February 2026 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 46 |
| December 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 23 |
| September 2025 | 31 |
Compared with England and Wales, West Kingsdown recorded notably more other theft (31% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (43% below) and violence and sexual offences (43% below). On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 105 to 121, while criminal damage and arson fell from 52 to 35.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 121 | 19.6 | 34.2 | +15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 54 | 8.7 | 15.4 | -2% |
| Other theft | 52 | 8.4 | 6.4 | +6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 35 | 5.7 | 6.7 | -33% |
| Vehicle crime | 31 | 5.0 | 5.0 | +15% |
| Burglary | 20 | 3.2 | 3.6 | -9% |
| Other crime | 17 | 2.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Public order | 11 | 1.8 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 1.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than West Kingsdown; the highest is Dartford (98.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Otford and Kemsing (36.8).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Kingsdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley | 1,034 | 60.3 | +2% |
| Otford and Kemsing | 275 | 36.8 | -38% |
| Borough Green | 269 | 43.0 | -27% |
| Swanley | 1,676 | 90.3 | +53% |
| Sevenoaks | 1,553 | 56.6 | -4% |
| Ebbsfleet Valley | 378 | 50.9 | -14% |
| Stone (Dartford) | 381 | 70.8 | +20% |
| Dartford | 7,106 | 98.0 | +66% |
Fawkham and West Kingsdown is the one area listed within West Kingsdown, with 59.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fawkham and West Kingsdown | Neighbourhood | 6,178 | 365 | 59.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 43% of the crime recorded in West Kingsdown over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Colin Chapman Way” (26).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Colin Chapman Way | 26 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 24 |
| On or near Symonds Close | 20 |
| On or near Castle Hill | 17 |
| On or near Knatts Valley Road | 14 |
| On or near Fawkham Road | 12 |
| On or near Valley Road | 12 |
| On or near Ashen Grove Road | 11 |
| On or near Chancel Close | 11 |
| On or near Beacon Row | 10 |
Of the 311 crimes in West Kingsdown with a recorded outcome, 47% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 54 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 146 | 46.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 105 | 33.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 20 | 6.4% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.0% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
West Kingsdown has an estimated population of 6,178 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (8.1%, against 23.3%), less social housing (6.7%, against 17.1%) and less private renting (8.3%, against 20.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Kingsdown average decile 5.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | West Kingsdown | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 31.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 23.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 85.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 8.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Kingsdown a safe place to live?
West Kingsdown recorded 59.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 976th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other theft.
What is the most common crime in West Kingsdown?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 121 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (54).
Is crime in West Kingsdown going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Kingsdown was up 4% on the year before: 365 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 352 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Kingsdown?
About 6,178 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Kingsdown?
West Kingsdown 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.