Bearsted Crime Rate

Bearsted is characterized by its exceptional safety, boasting an impressive safety score of 92/100, which is far above the UK average of 79. Its overall crime rate is remarkably low at 31.3 per 1,000 residents, significantly outperforming the national average of 91.7. Furthermore, the area is seeing a positive trend in its security environment, with a double-digit decrease in crime of 11.2% year-over-year. This downward trajectory, captured in the data from December 2024 to November 2025, reinforces Bearsted's position as one of the most secure and desirable locations in Kent. While no area is entirely free from crime, the statistics for Bearsted suggest a peaceful community where residents can feel highly secure.

Crime Breakdown in Bearsted

Bearsted is one of the safest areas in the region, with a crime profile dominated by violence and sexual offences, which account for 44.7% of all reports (14.0 per 1,000 residents). While this percentage seems high, the absolute volume of crime is very low. Anti-social behaviour (15.7%) and 'other theft' (9.5%) are the next most common categories, reflecting a community where major criminal activity is rare.

Property crime in Bearsted—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, theft, and criminal damage—is exceptionally low at 10.2 per 1,000 people. This is less than a third of the UK average for property-related offences (32.3). Vehicle crime (8.0%) and burglary (3.8%) are present but occur at very low frequencies. For residents, this data indicates that while Bearsted is a very secure environment, vehicle-related offences are the most prominent property concern, particularly during the night when they account for over half of all recorded incidents.

Crime Trends in Bearsted

Bearsted is currently experiencing a positive downward trend in crime, with a year-over-year decrease of 11.2%. This suggests that local safety initiatives and community vigilance are proving effective. Monthly data from the Dec 2024 to Nov 2025 period shows that the crime rate has remained consistently low, with minor fluctuations.

The year started with a rate of 2.3 per 1,000 in December 2024, peaking slightly at 4.1 in August 2025. However, since that summer peak, the rate has trended downwards, returning to 2.3 per 1,000 by November 2025. This stability at a low level is a strong indicator of a secure residential environment. For homeowners, these trends are reassuring, showing that Bearsted is not only safe but is actively maintaining its status as a low-crime area within the wider Maidstone district. Local residents can feel confident that the area's safety profile is moving in the right direction.

How To Keep Safe in Bearsted

Despite Bearsted's high safety score, violence and sexual offences remain the most frequently reported crime type. While the overall numbers are low, personal awareness is still important for maintaining the area's peaceful character.

To stay safe in Bearsted, please consider these tips:

1. Be mindful of your surroundings when walking in the evening, particularly in less populated areas, even though the overall risk is low.
2. Secure your vehicles overnight, preferably in a garage or behind locked gates, as vehicle crime accounts for 54% of all night-time offences in the area.
3. Use timers for your lights when away from home in the afternoon, as data shows a higher percentage of burglary attempts during the 12pm to 6pm window.
4. Join the local Neighbourhood Watch to stay informed about any rare but specific spikes in anti-social behaviour or 'other theft'.
5. Ensure that any high-value items kept in vehicles are removed or hidden from sight, particularly if parking on the street during evening hours.

In Bearsted, criminal activity follows a very specific temporal pattern. During the morning and afternoon, theft-related crimes are the most prevalent, making up 48% and 57% of incidents respectively. This suggests that opportunistic crimes are more common during daylight hours when people are active or away from home. However, as night falls, the profile shifts dramatically. Between midnight and 6am, vehicle crime becomes the dominant concern, accounting for a significant 54% of all reported incidents. Burglary also shows a slight increase in relative frequency during the afternoon and night compared to the morning. This data highlights that while Bearsted is generally very safe, property and vehicle security should be a priority during the late-night hours.

Bearsted compares very favourably to its neighbours. Its crime rate of 31.3 per 1,000 is significantly lower than Langley Heath (69.9) and is a fraction of the rate seen in the nearby town of Maidstone (108.8). While it cannot match the zero-crime statistics of the very small rural hamlets of Detling and Langley, it stands as one of the safest urban settlements in the region. For those seeking a residential area that balances accessibility with high levels of security, Bearsted offers a superior safety profile compared to most surrounding urban environments, making it a benchmark for low-crime living in the Maidstone local authority area.

With a property crime rate of just 10.2 per 1,000, Bearsted is a low-risk area, but the specific nature of local crime warrants advanced protection. Vehicle crime is a particular standout, accounting for over half of all night-time incidents. Traditional security cameras often only provide footage of a theft after it has occurred, which is of limited use in a high-safety area like Bearsted where prevention is the goal. The scOS AI-powered operating system offers a proactive alternative. By monitoring all your cameras simultaneously with intelligent boundary detection, scOS can identify suspicious activity around your vehicles or property lines before a crime is committed. Its ability to verify vehicle plates and recognise your family's routines means it only alerts you to genuine threats. In an area where crime is already decreasing, scOS helps maintain that trend by providing a visible and autonomous deterrent. Instead of just recording a burglary or vehicle theft, scOS destroys the element of surprise with lights and sound, making it clear to any opportunist that your home is not a soft target. For Bearsted homeowners, this proactive approach is the most effective way to ensure their property remains as safe as the surrounding community.