Gravesham Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Gravesham in January 2026 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property crimes, with violent offences accounting for 37.7% of all reported incidents. This marks a significant divergence from the UK average, where violent crimes constitute only 12% of the national total. The local authority's overall crime rate of 7.3 per 1,000 residents places it 7.4% above the UK average of 6.8, a figure that suggests a unique set of local factors influencing criminal activity. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage account for 16.0% and 10.6% respectively, both well above the UK averages for these categories, indicating a potential link to the area's social dynamics or infrastructure characteristics. Seasonal context in January—characterised by post-holiday periods, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall—may contribute to patterns observed in the data. The high proportion of violent crimes, particularly violence and sexual offences, could be partially explained by the area's demographic composition or the presence of specific risk factors during this time of year. The absence of significant spikes in property crimes like burglary or vehicle crime, which are below UK averages, suggests that local economic or environmental conditions may mitigate these types of offences. However, the sharp rise in bicycle theft, though not reflected in the overall crime rate, deserves closer attention to seasonal trends and local transportation patterns.

January 2026 saw a 300% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 2 to 8 incidents—a stark contrast to the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000 residents. This surge, despite the post-holiday lull in retail activity, may reflect unseasonal demand for cycling or changes in local infrastructure use. Other crime also rose sharply, with an 87.5% increase from 16 to 30 incidents, suggesting broader shifts in criminal behaviour or reporting patterns. Meanwhile, theft from the person fell by 62.5%, dropping from 8 to 3 cases, which could indicate improved security measures or reduced public spaces conducive to such crimes. The violent crime category—accounting for 37.7% of all reported incidents—remains 12% above the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000, a disparity that may be tied to local socioeconomic factors or the area's specific community dynamics. Anti-social behaviour, at 1.2 per 1,000, is 29% above the UK average, linked to the post-holiday period or concentrated population hubs. Residents might find the 47% below UK average for shoplifting (0.3 vs 0.6 per 1,000) noteworthy, suggesting effective retail security measures or lower foot traffic in commercial areas during January.

Gravesham's crime rate in January 2026 (7.3 per 1,000) marked a 3.9% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.6, a modest but measurable decline. This reduction, however, does not fully offset the area's ongoing deviation from the UK average, which remains 7.4% higher. On a daily basis, Gravesham recorded an average of 26 crimes per day in January—a figure that, while consistent with the area's overall rate, highlights the frequency of incidents in a relatively small population of 110,671. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 136 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, when compared to the previous month's 1-in-122 figure, suggests a slight improvement in community safety. This population-scaled perspective reveals that while the absolute number of crimes has decreased, the per-capita impact remains elevated relative to the UK. The decline in vehicle crime (down 48.8%) and burglary (down 28.6%) may reflect seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity or targeted interventions, but the persistent above-average rates for violent and anti-social crimes indicate ongoing challenges in addressing local safety concerns.