Lenham and Harrietsham Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

December 2025 in Lenham and Harrietsham presented a mixed crime picture, with the area’s overall crime rate at 5.3 per 1,000 residents—24.3% below the UK average of 7.0. This relative safety, despite the holiday season’s typical pressures, suggests a combination of community resilience and effective local policing. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 44.4% of all reported incidents, a rate 7% below the UK average. This category’s lower-than-expected incidence may be partly explained by the area’s small population and the presence of family-oriented housing, which could reduce opportunities for such crimes. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, at 16.7% of total crimes, though its rate was 3% below the UK average, reflecting seasonal community cohesion during the festive period. However, the stark rise in shoplifting—0.7 per 1,000 residents, 23% above the UK average—contradicts the usual December trend of reduced retail crime, suggesting unanticipated factors such as increased foot traffic from nearby towns or changes in local business practices. The seasonal context of December, with its long evenings and holiday shopping, likely contributes to this anomaly. Meanwhile, other theft and criminal damage rates remained well below UK averages, indicating a broader pattern of low-level crime that is managed effectively in this built-up area.

December 2025 witnessed a dramatic 150% increase in shoplifting, rising from 2 to 5 incidents, an unexpected spike in a season typically associated with reduced retail crime. This surge contrasts with the 50% drop in anti-social behaviour, which fell from 12 to 6, possibly linked to holiday-related community activities. Shoplifting’s rate of 0.7 per 1,000 residents placed the area 23% above the UK average for this category, highlighting a unique local dynamic. Meanwhile, possession of weapons saw a 100% increase, with one incident reported—a rate 186% above the UK average, raising questions about local security measures. These shifts underscore a combination of seasonal factors and localized crime patterns, with retail crime defying typical December trends.

Lenham and Harrietsham’s crime rate rose by 2.7% from 5.2 to 5.3 per 1,000 residents in December 2025, marking a slight upward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the month, a figure that, while low, reflects the small population of 6,776 residents. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for every 188 residents over the course of December—a rate that is lower than the UK average. This monthly exposure figure underscores the area’s relative safety compared to national trends. The population context further highlights that even small fluctuations in crime numbers can be significant in a community of this size, where each incident carries a measurable impact on local residents. The comparison with the previous month suggests that while the overall rate is stable, the nature of crimes has shifted, as seen in the breakdown of specific categories.