Dartford Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Dartford’s crime profile in December 2025 reveals a stark contrast between property and violent crime, with property offences dominating both in volume and rate. The overall crime rate of 9.4 per 1,000 residents places the area 34.3% above the UK average, a discrepancy that may partly reflect local dynamics. Violence and sexual offences (29.4% of total crimes) and shoplifting (21.0%) are the most prevalent categories, suggesting a mix of public order and retail-related activity. The seasonal context of December—characterised by extended evenings, Christmas shopping, and holiday-related absences—likely contributes to the surge in property crimes, particularly shoplifting, which is 251% above the UK average. This imbalance between property and violent crime may indicate a community where commercial spaces and high-traffic areas are more susceptible to theft, while violent incidents, though significant, remain proportionally lower. The rate of violent crime (2.8 per 1,000) is 9% above the UK average, but the dominance of property crime suggests underlying factors such as retail density or transient populations. This pattern aligns with Dartford’s status as a commuter town with a mix of urban and suburban areas, where commercial hubs may attract opportunistic theft during peak shopping periods.

December 2025 saw sharp increases in bicycle theft (+300%) and theft from the person (+225%), both of which may be linked to festive shopping and holiday-related mobility. Shoplifting, already 251% above the UK average, rose 47.3% month-on-month, reinforcing its role as a key driver of Dartford’s elevated property crime rate. The property-to-violent crime balance (546 property crimes vs 344 violent crimes) underscores a pattern where commercial and retail environments dominate the crime profile. Violent crime remains 9% above the UK average (2.8 vs 2.6 per 1,000), but the rate of robbery fell by 64.3% (from 14 to 5), possibly reflecting increased security measures or seasonal changes in public behaviour. Public order offences also decreased by 28.3%, which may indicate a reduction in alcohol-related incidents during the festive period. These shifts suggest a combination of seasonal activity and local policing efforts, with property crimes continuing to outpace violent offences despite the latter’s above-average rate.

Dartford’s crime rate in December 2025 (9.4 per 1,000) marks a 17.3% increase from the previous month’s rate of 8.0 per 1,000, a rise that translates to 38 crimes reported per day on average—a significant uptick from the prior month’s daily average of approximately 32.6. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 107 residents, a figure that highlights the density of incidents in a population of 125,011. This monthly exposure rate may feel more pronounced in areas with high foot traffic or commercial activity, where property crimes are concentrated. While the overall rate is 34.3% above the UK average, the comparison reveals stark disparities in specific categories: shoplifting, for instance, is 251% above the national average, a gap that may reflect Dartford’s retail infrastructure or targeted policing challenges. The shift from November to December also aligns with seasonal trends, where extended evenings and holiday-related disruptions may amplify opportunities for theft, particularly in areas with limited surveillance or high turnover of transient populations.