Dartford Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Dartford’s January 2026 crime rate of 8.4 per 1,000 residents places it 27.3% above the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000, highlighting a persistent challenge in local crime management. The most striking outlier in the breakdown is shoplifting, which occurred at a rate of 1.7 per 1,000 — 209% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This anomaly likely reflects the town’s retail density and the seasonal lull in post-holiday consumer activity, which may have created opportunities for opportunistic theft. Violence and sexual offences, at 323 cases (30.9% of total crimes), remain the most prevalent category, a pattern consistent with urban centres where interpersonal conflicts and alcohol-related incidents are common. Anti-social behaviour, at 116 cases (11.1% of total crimes), also features prominently, though it is only 1% above the UK average. The seasonal context of January — a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days — may have limited opportunities for certain offences while exacerbating others, such as violence, which can be more prevalent during colder months. These patterns suggest a need for targeted interventions in high-risk retail zones and public spaces, alongside broader community engagement to address underlying social factors.

January 2026 saw a sharp 80% increase in robbery, rising from 5 to 9 cases, a stark contrast to the 46.2% drop in theft from the person, which fell from 13 to 7. These shifts reflect a combination of seasonal factors and local dynamics, with post-holiday economic pressures potentially contributing to the rise in violent crime. Meanwhile, shoplifting remained a striking outlier, with a rate of 1.7 per 1,000 — 209% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 — likely driven by the town’s retail presence and the post-Christmas lull in consumer activity. Other crime also rose by 29.4%, indicating a broader trend in non-specific offences. Conversely, public order offences were 51% below the UK average, possibly linked to reduced social gatherings during the colder months. These fluctuations underscore the need for targeted policing strategies in high-risk areas.

Dartford’s January 2026 crime rate of 8.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 10.6% decrease from December’s 9.4 per 1,000, reflecting a slight easing in local crime levels. This decline aligns with typical January patterns, where reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours may limit opportunities for certain offences. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 34 crimes per day in January, a figure that contextualises the frequency of incidents for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 120 residents, underscoring the scale of monthly exposure. When compared to the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000, Dartford’s rate remains higher, though the year-on-year trend suggests a potential shift in local crime dynamics. This population-scaled perspective highlights the need for continued monitoring, particularly given the persistent disparity in specific offence categories.