Maidstone Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Maidstone's November 2023 crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents places it 4% below the UK average of 7.5, marking a continuation of its generally lower-than-average profile. The most striking outlier is the category of violence and sexual offences, which at 2.7 per 1,000 residents exceeds the UK average by 4%, despite accounting for 37.6% of all reported crimes. This suggests a concentration of violent incidents that contrasts with the district's broader safety record. Anti-social behaviour, the second most common category at 12.2% of total crimes, is significantly lower than the UK average, with 0.9 per 1,000 residents compared to the national 1.1. This discrepancy may reflect local policing strategies or community engagement efforts that have mitigated such incidents. Seasonal factors also appear to influence patterns, with the 71.4% increase in vehicle crime likely tied to November's darker evenings and the post-Black Friday shopping period, which may have increased vehicle presence in town centres. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 32.1% compared to the previous month, due to the absence of large-scale events that typically accompany the Bonfire Night period. The overall balance between property and violent crime remains skewed, with property crimes (511) slightly outnumbering violent crimes (506), though this gap is narrow and may reflect the district's mix of residential and commercial areas. These patterns highlight the combination of local geography, seasonal rhythms, and policing priorities that shape Maidstone's crime profile.

November 2023 saw a 71.4% surge in vehicle crime, rising from 56 to 96 incidents—a sharp contrast to the 50% drop in bicycle theft, which fell from 8 to 4. This shift suggests potential changes in criminal focus, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as Black Friday shopping or increased vehicle movement during darker evenings. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences remained 4% above the UK average at 2.7 per 1,000, a figure that stands out against the 14% UK deficit in anti-social behaviour (0.9 vs 1.1 per 1,000). The 46.2% increase in possession of weapons from 13 to 19 incidents adds another layer of complexity, though the small absolute numbers mean this category remains relatively rare. Residents may find the 100% UK deficit in theft from the person (0.0 vs 0.2 per 1,000) particularly reassuring, indicating a strong local deterrent in this category.

Maidstone's November 2023 crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents marks a 14.4% decline from the previous month's 8.4 per 1,000, reflecting a notable shift in local crime dynamics. Daily crime activity averaged 45 incidents per day, though this figure alone does not capture the full picture of community safety. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 140 residents, a metric that contextualises the scale of incidents within Maidstone's population of 187,767. This monthly exposure rate, while lower than the previous month, remains a useful benchmark for residents to gauge their likelihood of encountering crime. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while the overall rate is below the UK average, fluctuations in specific crime categories—such as the 71.4% increase in vehicle crime—suggest localized factors may be influencing certain areas of the district.