Bearsted Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Bearsted in September 2023 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property-related offences, shaped by seasonal and community dynamics. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 39.3% of all crimes, making them the most prevalent category. This rate of 1.3 per 1,000 is 53% below the UK average for this category, suggesting that while violent crime is present, it remains significantly lower than national benchmarks. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 17.9% of reported crimes, with a rate of 0.6 per 1,000—55% below the UK average. These figures may partly explain the area’s reputation as a relatively low-crime environment, though the presence of such offences in a built-up area within Maidstone hints at social pressures or unmet community needs. Property crimes, including other theft and vehicle crime, made up the remaining 42.9% of incidents. Vehicle crime in Bearsted (0.5 per 1,000) is 4% above the UK average, a slight anomaly that could reflect local factors such as parking patterns or infrastructure. The seasonal context of September—marked by the return of students to universities and the start of the academic term—may influence patterns of anti-social behaviour and public disorder, as seen in the increase of such incidents. Meanwhile, the overall crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000, 57.5% below the UK average, underscores Bearsted’s position as a safer-than-average area, though the mix of crime types indicates a combination of local conditions and broader trends.

September 2023 saw significant month-on-month shifts in Bearsted’s crime profile, with anti-social behaviour surging by 150% and other theft rising by 300%. These increases, alongside a 100% rise in bicycle theft, suggest a potential link to seasonal transitions, such as the return of students to nearby universities and the associated social activity. Conversely, violence and sexual offences declined by 8.3%, a drop that may reflect the easing of summer-related tensions or changes in policing priorities. The breakdown of crime types also reveals stark contrasts with UK averages: while Bearsted’s rate of violence and sexual offences is 53% below the national figure, its vehicle crime rate is 4% higher, a small but notable deviation. This slight discrepancy could be attributed to local factors such as the presence of commuter parking or retail areas that attract vehicle-related incidents. For residents, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour—now accounting for 17.9% of all crimes—may signal a need for targeted community engagement or increased patrols during the autumn months. The data also highlights the absence of shoplifting and criminal damage, both of which are 80–83% below UK averages, a trend consistent with Bearsted’s likely lower foot traffic and more tightly knit community compared to larger urban centres.

Bearsted’s crime rate in September 2023 rose to 3.4 per 1,000, a 27.4% increase from the previous month’s rate of 2.6 per 1,000. This upward trend, while modest, contrasts with the area’s overall position as a significantly safer-than-average location. On a daily basis, Bearsted recorded roughly one crime per day in September, a figure that, while low, may be influenced by the area’s smaller population of 8,356 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 298 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is far below the UK average and indicative of the area’s generally secure environment. When scaled to Bearsted’s population, the 3.4 per 1,000 rate translates to approximately 28 total crimes—a number that, when divided by the population, suggests that the likelihood of any individual encountering crime is minimal. However, the month-on-month increase in anti-social behaviour and other theft raises questions about whether this reflects a temporary spike tied to seasonal factors or a broader shift in local dynamics. The comparison to UK averages further reinforces Bearsted’s status as an outlier in several categories, with its rates for violence, anti-social behaviour, and shoplifting all significantly below national benchmarks. This suggests that the area’s characteristics—whether its compact built-up nature, lower population density, or effective policing—play a key role in maintaining its lower crime profile despite the recent uptick in certain categories.