Stone (Dartford) Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 6,987 residents, Stone (Dartford) recorded 42 crimes in July 2024, translating to a crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 people. This places the area 28.6% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently lower-than-average crime profile. The most prevalent crime category was anti-social behaviour, accounting for 47.6% of all reported incidents (20 cases), followed by violence and sexual offences (33.3%, 14 cases). These figures contrast sharply with national trends, where anti-social behaviour typically averages 1.4 per 1,000. July’s peak summer season, characterised by extended daylight, school holidays, and increased tourism, likely contributed to higher foot traffic and social interactions in public spaces, which may partly explain the dominance of anti-social behaviour and violence. However, the overall crime rate remains lower than the UK average, suggesting effective local policing or community dynamics that mitigate broader national trends. Violent crime, while still present, was 30% below the UK average, potentially reflecting the area’s relatively low population density and stable community structures. Property crimes, including burglary and vehicle crime, were also significantly below national averages, with burglary at 0.1 per 1,000 (68% below the UK rate) and vehicle crime at 0.1 per 1,000 (78% below). These figures align with the area’s built-up but not densely populated nature, where commercial activity may be less concentrated than in larger urban centres, reducing opportunities for property-related offences. The seasonal context of July—marked by festivals, open-air events, and increased visitor numbers—may have influenced the types of crimes reported, with public order and anti-social behaviour incidents more likely to occur in crowded or transient environments.

July 2024 saw a dramatic 100% increase in anti-social behaviour compared to June, with 20 incidents reported (up from zero in the previous month). This surge, which placed the category 100% above the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000, may be linked to the summer festival season and increased public gatherings. Concurrently, violence and sexual offences rose by 40%, from 10 to 14 cases, though this category remained 30% below the UK average. Crimes such as drugs (down 66.7% to one incident) and burglary (down 50% to one incident) saw significant declines, possibly due to heightened police presence during peak tourist periods or seasonal shifts in criminal activity. The breakdown of crimes also revealed stark disparities with national averages: criminal damage and arson were 52% below the UK rate, while public order offences were 84% below. These figures suggest that while certain categories of crime are amplified by local conditions, others are suppressed by factors such as community cohesion, effective local policing, or the area’s demographic profile. A resident would find the 42 crimes recorded in July—roughly one per day—particularly relevant, as this provides a tangible measure of the area’s safety relative to its population size.

The crime rate in Stone (Dartford) for July 2024 (6.0 per 1,000) marked a 75.2% increase compared to the previous month’s rate of 3.4 per 1,000, indicating a significant upward shift in reported incidents. This rise, however, still places the area well below the UK average, highlighting a unique local context that mitigates national crime trends. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that may appear low but reflects the relatively small population of 6,987 residents. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 166 residents over the course of the month—a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average, which is not provided in the data. The population-scaled perspective underscores the area’s effectiveness in maintaining safety despite the seasonal spikes in certain crime categories. While the overall rate has risen sharply from June, the distribution of crime types suggests that local factors—such as the area’s built-up but not densely populated nature, active community engagement, or targeted policing strategies—continue to play a critical role in keeping crime rates below national benchmarks. This contrast between the month-on-month increase and the area’s ongoing below-average performance illustrates the combination of seasonal fluctuations and long-term local conditions.