Dartford Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Dartford's crime rate in February 2026 stood at 8.8 per 1,000 residents, 37.5% above the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This figure underscores a persistent challenge for the local authority district, which has historically struggled with higher-than-average crime levels. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (30.6% of all reported crimes), followed by shoplifting (22.2%) and anti-social behaviour (12.7%). These patterns align with Dartford's character as a commuter town with significant retail and leisure infrastructure, which likely drives both property-related crimes and incidents of public disorder. Seasonal factors also appear to influence the crime profile: February, a winter month with low outdoor activity, saw a pre-spring lull in outdoor crime but a continued presence of indoor-related offences. The rate of theft from the person was 100% below the UK average, suggesting that targeted policing or community initiatives may have contributed to this reduction. However, the sharp rise in shoplifting—245% above the UK average—raises questions about retail security measures and the effectiveness of current strategies in high-traffic areas. The overall crime picture reflects a combination of local demographics, economic conditions, and seasonal rhythms, requiring a nuanced approach to crime prevention.

February 2026 saw significant increases in bicycle theft (+200%), robbery (+66.7%), and vehicle crime (+34.7%) compared to January. These rises may be linked to seasonal transitions, with more people cycling during the early spring thaw or increased vehicle activity as commuting patterns shift. Conversely, other crime decreased by 34.1% and theft from the person fell by 28.6%, potentially reflecting the success of targeted interventions or natural fluctuations in crime trends. The category of shoplifting, already 245% above the UK average, saw no improvement in February, highlighting the ongoing challenge of retail crime in Dartford. Meanwhile, public order offences were 27% below the UK average, a positive deviation that may indicate effective local policing or community engagement efforts in this area. The data also reveals that violent crime in Dartford was 16% above the UK average, with 2.7 per 1,000 residents experiencing violence or sexual offences—a figure that would be of particular interest to local residents and community leaders.

Dartford's crime rate in February 2026 was 8.8 per 1,000, a 5.4% increase from the previous month's rate of 8.4 per 1,000. This upward trend, though modest, underscores the area's persistent struggle with crime relative to the national average. On a daily basis, Dartford experienced approximately 39 crimes per day in February—a figure that, while local to the area, provides a tangible sense of the monthly burden on residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 114 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, while not directly comparable to national figures, offers insight into the likelihood of encountering crime in Dartford. With a population of 125,011, the local context suggests that crime prevention efforts must balance resources between high-risk areas and broader community engagement. The comparison to the UK average also highlights the need for tailored strategies: while Dartford's violent crime rate is 16% above the national average, its public order offences are 27% below, indicating that some policing priorities may be more effective than others. These figures, when viewed through the lens of Dartford's commuter town dynamics, suggest that targeted interventions in retail and leisure zones could yield significant reductions in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.