Lenham and Harrietsham Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In July 2024, Lenham and Harrietsham recorded a crime rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 26.2% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This relatively low rate is consistent with the area’s character as a small built-up area within Maidstone, where community cohesion and lower population density may contribute to reduced crime opportunities. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 50% of all incidents (21 cases), with a rate of 3.1 per 1,000—9% above the UK average for this category. This discrepancy suggests that while the area is generally safer than the national average, it faces specific challenges in managing violent incidents, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as increased social interactions during summer festivals. Shoplifting followed at 14.3% (6 cases), with a rate 32% above the UK average, reflecting the presence of retail spaces or tourist activity. Anti-social behaviour, at 11.9% (5 cases), was 52% below the UK average, indicating a strong local focus on community management and enforcement. The seasonal context of July—peak tourism, school holidays, and outdoor events—likely influenced these patterns, with opportunities for shoplifting and public order offences increasing during the month. However, the overall crime rate remained stable, with no significant spikes in property crimes, which typically dominate in more densely populated areas. This data illustrates the interplay between local demographics, seasonal rhythms, and crime trends in a small rural-urban interface area, where targeted interventions may be more effective than broad national strategies.

July 2024 marked a significant increase in burglary, which rose by 100% from zero to one incident, and theft from the person, which also doubled from zero to one. These spikes, though small in absolute terms, suggest potential vulnerabilities in residential security or public spaces during the summer months. Conversely, anti-social behaviour saw a 25% increase, potentially linked to the area’s seasonal tourism and extended evenings. Other crime categories, however, showed marked declines: other crime fell by 66.7%, criminal damage and arson by 60%, and public order offences by 40%. This shift in crime mix highlights a move away from property-related crimes toward more immediate, low-level incidents. Lenham and Harrietsham’s violence and sexual offences rate (3.1 per 1,000) was 9% above the UK average, a contrast to its overall safety profile. Residents may find the 100% rise in burglary particularly concerning, as it indicates a new risk factor in an otherwise stable crime environment.

July 2024 saw a 10.7% decrease in Lenham and Harrietsham’s crime rate compared to June, falling from 6.9 to 6.2 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical of summer months, when tourism and outdoor events may reduce opportunities for certain crimes. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day in July, a figure that reflects the low overall rate and the community’s relative safety. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 161 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of crime in relation to the local population. With a population of 6,776, this monthly exposure rate underscores the rarity of crime in the area, particularly when compared to the UK average. The drop from June may also reflect the impact of local initiatives or increased community vigilance during peak summer activity. The daily and monthly figures provide a tangible sense of how crime manifests in a small built-up area, where residents are less likely to encounter incidents than in larger urban centres.