Stone (Dartford) Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Stone (Dartford) maintained a crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents in October 2024, a figure 58% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This places the area among the safest in the country, though the crime profile differs significantly from national trends. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 58.3% of all reported crimes, with 14 incidents recorded. This category, while higher than previous months, still remains 25% below the UK average. Public order and vehicle crime followed closely, each contributing 12.5% of the total. The seasonal context of October—darker evenings, Halloween, and the transition to winter—may have influenced the crime mix, with increased reports of violent incidents potentially linked to reduced visibility and community gatherings. Property-related crimes such as burglary, criminal damage, and anti-social behaviour were all below the UK average, with burglary at 0.1 per 1,000 (70% below the national rate). This contrasts with the UK profile, where property crime typically constitutes a larger share. The area's relatively low crime rate may reflect its suburban character, with a mix of residential and commercial spaces that do not mirror the high-density urban environments where violent crime is more concentrated. However, the spike in violence and sexual offences underscores the need for targeted measures during seasonal events. The data also shows that other crime types, such as theft from the person or fraud, were not reported, suggesting a crime picture shaped by local conditions rather than national patterns.

October 2024 saw a 100% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from seven to 14 incidents. This spike, while significant, still places the category 25% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 80% compared to September, dropping from five to one incident. Anti-social behaviour also declined by 66.7%, aligning with a broader trend of reduced property-related crimes. The area's violent crime rate (2.0 per 1,000) is lower than the UK average for the category, a contrast to the national profile where property crime often dominates. Residents may find the 58.3% share of violent crimes in the overall rate particularly noteworthy, suggesting a shift in crime dynamics compared to other regions. Vehicle crime, at 0.4 per 1,000, is 15% below the UK average, though this remains a small portion of the total crime mix.

Stone (Dartford)'s crime rate in October 2024 (3.4 per 1,000 residents) represents a 35.3% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.3 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader trend observed in the area during autumn, where seasonal factors like shorter daylight hours and reduced foot traffic in retail zones may contribute to lower crime activity. Daily crime figures show an average of one reported incident per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while low, remains a local metric without a direct UK comparison. On a monthly scale, the rate translates to one crime occurring for every 291 residents, a statistic that underscores the area's relatively safe environment compared to the UK average. When contextualised against the local population of 6,987, this suggests that the majority of residents are unaffected by crime, though vigilance remains necessary during peak Halloween activity and darker evenings. The drop in crime compared to September may also reflect ongoing community initiatives or seasonal lulls in certain crime types, though no specific programmes are referenced in the data.