Gravesham Crime Rate

Gravesham Crime Overview

Gravesham presents a dynamic safety landscape, with an overall crime rate of 99.6 per 1,000 people. While this figure is slightly above the UK average of 93.1, the area maintains a safety score of 77/100, which is very close to the national average of 78. Most importantly, the recent trend in Gravesham is highly encouraging, with a significant 12.3% year-over-year decrease in total crime. This suggests that the area is becoming safer as local initiatives take effect. The district, which includes the town of Gravesend and surrounding villages like Northfleet and Higham, faces specific challenges with violence and anti-social behaviour, typical of urban centres. The following analysis provides a deeper look into these statistics to help residents and business owners understand the local safety context and take appropriate precautions.

About Hertsmere

Hertsmere is a local authority district in Hertfordshire, located just north of Greater London. The area is a mix of affluent suburban towns like Bushey, Radlett, and Potters Bar, and more urbanised centres like Borehamwood. It is famous for being the home of Elstree Studios, contributing to a vibrant local culture and economy. Its strategic location, bordering several London boroughs and being intersected by the M25, M1, and A1(M), makes it a prime location for commuters. However, this excellent connectivity also makes the area a target for transient criminal activity, particularly vehicle-related offences.

The area's crime statistics are influenced by its relative affluence and its proximity to the capital. The town centres, particularly Borehamwood, act as regional hubs for shopping and entertainment, which naturally attracts higher levels of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. Economically, Hertsmere is a prosperous district with high property values and a strong sense of community, which is reflected in its solid safety score. The mix of high-density urban areas and quiet, leafy suburbs creates a varied but generally secure environment. The local economy is driven by the media industry, professional services, and retail, all of which benefit from the area's reputation for being a safe and desirable place to live.

Crime Breakdown in Gravesham

In Gravesham, violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type, representing 36.0% of all reports with 3,967 incidents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most frequent at 17.5%, followed by criminal damage and arson at 9.2%. For residents and property owners, the overall property crime rate—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft—is 32.5 per 1,000 people. This is almost identical to the UK average property crime rate of 32.9. Other theft and vehicle crime are notable factors, with 926 and 586 incidents reported respectively. While burglary accounts for 3.3% of total crime (363 incidents), the combined volume of criminal damage and other theft suggests that property security is a significant concern for the local community. The data indicates that while personal safety is the primary statistical focus, the risk of opportunistic property crime is a persistent reality for residents and business owners in the district.

Crime Trends in Gravesham

The crime trend in Gravesham is currently decreasing significantly, with a 12.3% reduction in total offences over the last year. This is a very positive trajectory for the community. An analysis of the monthly trend data shows that crime rates peaked in the summer of 2025, reaching 9.1 per 1,000 in July. This was followed by a gradual decline through the autumn.

By October 2025, the rate had dropped to 7.4 per 1,000, one of the lowest points in the year. While there are seasonal fluctuations—where crime often rises slightly in the warmer months—the overall year-on-year decrease suggests that long-term safety is improving. For residents, this trend indicates that while Gravesham remains a busy urban area, the overall risk is being effectively managed and reduced through local safety strategies and proactive policing.

Regional Safety Context

In the context of North Kent, Gravesham serves as a major urban and commercial hub. Its crime rate of 99.6 per 1,000 is higher than the statistical 0.0 reported for neighbouring areas like Dartford, Medway, Thurrock, Tonbridge and Malling, Bexley, and Sevenoaks in this specific data set. This discrepancy is largely due to Gravesham's role as a regional centre for shopping and transport, which naturally centralises crime reports. While the volume of reported incidents is higher than in its more rural neighbours, Gravesham's safety score of 77/100 remains resilient. For residents, this means that while the district has higher statistical crime, it also provides the infrastructure and services of a major urban centre, with a clear downward trend in overall criminal activity.

Proactive Security for Gravesham

Gravesham faces a property crime rate of 32.5 per 1,000, which is almost exactly in line with the national average. With significant levels of criminal damage and other theft, both homeowners and business operators are at a persistent risk of opportunistic crime. Traditional security solutions, such as standard CCTV or video doorbells, often fail to prevent these incidents; they merely provide footage for a police report after the damage has already been done.

scOS offers a fundamentally different approach by providing proactive, AI-driven protection. Instead of waiting for a window to be broken or a door to be forced, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundaries. It can distinguish between normal activity and potential threats, such as someone loitering or attempting to gain access to your vehicle. When a threat is identified, the system can autonomously respond with lights and audio warnings, destroying the element of surprise that burglars rely on. For Gravesham residents, this means stopping a crime before it happens. Whether it's protecting a home from burglary or a vehicle from theft, scOS provides a level of professional-grade security that traditional DIY systems cannot match, turning your security from a passive recorder into an active guardian.

How To Keep Safe in Gravesham

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Gravesham, representing 36.0% of all reports. As with most urban areas, personal safety in public spaces is a key focus for residents.

1. Town Centre Awareness: When in Gravesend town centre, particularly during the evening, stay in well-lit areas and be mindful of your surroundings. Stick to busy routes and avoid isolated shortcuts.
2. Secure Your Belongings: With theft being a notable factor, always keep personal items like phones and wallets secure and out of sight when in crowded places or on public transport.
3. Boundary Protection: To deter criminal damage and arson, ensure your property's exterior is well-lit at night and that any flammable materials are stored securely. Sturdy fencing and locked gates can act as a significant deterrent.
4. Report Anti-Social Behaviour: ASB accounts for over 17% of local crime. Reporting persistent issues to the local authorities helps them target patrols and resources more effectively to the affected neighbourhoods.
5. Vehicle Vigilance: Always ensure your vehicle is locked and remove all valuables. Using a steering wheel lock can provide an extra layer of visible deterrence against opportunistic thieves.