Ashford (Ashford) Crime Rate

The urban centre of Ashford (Ashford) reports an overall crime rate of 98.6 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the UK average of 91.7. Despite this, the area maintains a solid safety score of 77/100. Most encouragingly, the crime trend is moving in a positive direction, with a recorded decrease of 7.9% year-over-year. This suggests that while Ashford is a busy commercial and transport hub with higher-than-average activity, efforts to improve community safety are yielding results. Residents and visitors can find detailed insights into crime types, temporal patterns, and local comparisons in the sections below to better understand the safety landscape of the town.

In the urban area of Ashford (Ashford), violence and sexual offences are the most common reports, with 2,940 incidents recorded, representing 37.1% of all crime. Anti-social behaviour is also significant, with 1,293 cases (16.3%), followed by shoplifting at 982 incidents (12.4%). These figures reflect the typical challenges of a busy urban centre with a high concentration of retail and transport activity.

Property crime in Ashford (Ashford) is a significant factor for local residents, with a combined rate of 33.5 per 1,000 people. This includes 187 burglaries (2.4% of total crime) and 176 vehicle crimes (2.2%). While individual rates for burglary and vehicle theft might seem low, the overall property crime rate is slightly above the UK average of 32.3. This highlights the importance of robust home and vehicle security in the urban core, where higher population density and transient footfall can increase the opportunity for opportunistic theft and criminal damage.

The crime trend in Ashford (Ashford) is notably positive, with a 7.9% year-over-year decrease. Monthly data from late 2024 through 2025 shows the crime rate fluctuating between a low of 6.9 per 1,000 in September and a peak of 9.8 in July. The year ended with a rate of 8.2 in November, down from 8.3 the previous December. The July peak is consistent with typical urban patterns where warmer weather and school holidays often lead to increased reports of anti-social behaviour and opportunistic theft. Despite these seasonal spikes, the consistent downward trend over the 12-month period suggests that the urban area is becoming progressively safer for its residents.

How To Keep Safe in Ashford (Ashford)

The most prevalent crime type in Ashford (Ashford) is violence and sexual offences, often concentrated in high-footfall urban areas. Personal safety and awareness are key to navigating the town centre securely.

1. Plan Your Journey: When visiting the town centre, especially at night, plan your route in advance and use well-lit, busy streets.
2. Be Mindful in Crowds: Shoplifting and theft are high in the afternoons. Keep your personal belongings secure and be mindful of your surroundings in busy retail areas like County Square.
3. Secure Your Vehicle: With vehicle crime rising to 23% of reports during the night, always double-check that your car is locked and parked in a secure, well-lit location if possible.
4. Report ASB Promptly: Anti-social behaviour is common in urban settings. Reporting incidents to the local neighbourhood policing team helps identify hotspots and improve local safety.
5. Home Boundary Security: Since burglary risk is present during both the afternoon and night, ensure your home’s perimeter is well-lit and consider AI-based security that monitors boundaries.

Crime in Ashford (Ashford) follows distinct temporal patterns. During the morning and afternoon hours, theft-related offences are most prominent, accounting for 47% and 49% of crimes respectively. This is largely driven by the high volume of retail activity in the town centre. As the day progresses into the evening, the focus shifts towards 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order offences, which make up 60% of reports between 6pm and midnight. The night-time period (12am-6am) sees a significant rise in vehicle crime, which reaches 23% of all incidents, and burglary, which peaks at 17%. These shifts highlight that while daytime risks are primarily retail-based, night-time risks are more focused on residential property and vehicles.

In the local context, Ashford (Ashford) serves as the primary urban hub, which is reflected in its higher crime rate of 98.6 per 1,000 compared to its immediate neighbours. Nearby Kingsnorth and Great Chart both report negligible recorded crime in this period, highlighting the disparity between the town centre and its suburban fringes. Finberry, a newer development, sits in the middle with a rate of 61.1 per 1,000. Sevington also shows a negligible rate. For those considering the region, Ashford (Ashford) offers the most significant amenities but also the highest volume of reported incidents, a common trade-off in major Kentish settlements.

In Ashford (Ashford), the property crime rate stands at 33.5 per 1,000 residents, which is slightly above the national average. This statistic underscores the need for urban homeowners to move beyond reactive security. Traditional cameras like Ring or Nest are popular, but they often only provide footage of a crime after it has been committed. In a busy urban environment, professional-grade deterrence is more effective.

The scOS security platform offers a proactive solution designed to prevent crime before it happens. By using AI to monitor all your cameras simultaneously, scOS can identify suspicious patterns at your property boundary. Whether it's a vehicle with fake plates detected via DVLA verification or an individual loitering near your entrance, the system reacts in real-time. Autonomous responses, such as engaging speakers or lighting, can disrupt a burglar's plan within the first few seconds. For Ashford residents, this means shifting the focus from recording a break-in to stopping it entirely, providing peace of mind that your home is actively protected 24/7.