Bearsted Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Bearsted's crime profile in September 2024 reveals a distinct balance between property and violent crime, shaped by seasonal transitions and local demographics. The overall crime rate of 2.6 per 1,000 residents places the area 66.2% below the UK average, a significant disparity that reflects Bearsted's character as a relatively stable built-up area within Maidstone. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (27.3% of total incidents), followed by vehicle crime (22.7%) and anti-social behaviour (13.6%). This mix contrasts with the UK average, where violence and sexual offences account for 33.7% of all crimes, suggesting Bearsted's lower violent crime rate may be influenced by its smaller, more closely knit community. The prominence of vehicle crime, which is 33% above the UK average, aligns with Bearsted's location as a commuter hub, where parking areas and traffic congestion may contribute to higher rates of vehicle-related offences. Meanwhile, the sharp drop in shoplifting (40% decrease) and anti-social behaviour (a 66% gap below the UK average) may be linked to September's seasonal context, as the return to school and university could reduce opportunities for such crimes. The area's low crime rate compared to the UK average, combined with its unique mix of property and violent crime, illustrates a local profile shaped by both geographic factors and community dynamics.

September 2024 saw sharp fluctuations in Bearsted's crime mix, with anti-social behaviour surging by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents) and drug-related crimes doubling from 0 to 3. This contrasts with a 50% drop in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 12 to 6, a decline that may reflect seasonal changes as the academic year begins. Vehicle crime also rose by 25% (from 4 to 5), potentially linked to increased traffic during the school term. Bearsted's rate for violence and sexual offences (0.7 per 1,000) is 73% below the UK average, a stark contrast to the 33% above UK average for vehicle crime. Shoplifting, meanwhile, fell by 40% (from 5 to 3), aligning with a 41% gap below the UK average for that category. These shifts suggest a combination of transient populations and local policing efforts.

Bearsted's crime rate in September 2024 fell to 2.6 per 1,000 residents, a 31.3% drop from the previous month's rate of 3.8 per 1,000. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns, as September marks the end of the summer tourist season and the start of the academic year, which may reduce transient populations typically linked to higher crime rates. On a daily basis, Bearsted recorded one reported crime for every 380 residents over the course of the month. While this figure is specific to Bearsted, it provides a local context for understanding the frequency of incidents relative to the population. When scaled to the area's population of 8,356, the monthly exposure translates to a 1-in-380 chance of being directly affected by crime, a statistic that underscores the relatively low risk compared to larger urban centres. The previous month's rate, though still below the UK average, suggests a temporary fluctuation rather than a sustained trend, with the September figures reflecting a more stable pattern consistent with Bearsted's overall crime profile.