Lenham and Harrietsham Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Lenham and Harrietsham’s February 2025 crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents places the area 26.9% below the UK average of 6.7, a disparity that underscores its relatively safer profile. This performance is consistent with the area’s character as a built-up district within Maidstone, where lower population density and a mix of residential and commercial zones may contribute to reduced crime exposure. The top crime types in February were violence and sexual offences (13 incidents, 39.4% of total), shoplifting (9 incidents, 27.3%), and criminal damage and arson (4 incidents, 12.1%). Violence and sexual offences, while the most frequent category, remain 19% below the UK average, a statistic that may reflect the area’s limited nightlife and controlled community environment. Shoplifting’s sharp rise to 110% above the UK average for this category, however, highlights a potential vulnerability in retail areas, exacerbated by seasonal factors such as the pre-spring lull in outdoor activity. The area’s crime profile also shows a marked contrast between violent and property crime, with the former accounting for nearly 40% of total incidents and the latter for 57%. This balance suggests that local policing strategies may need to prioritise both community safety and targeted interventions in high-risk retail zones. The winter month context, with low outdoor activity and shorter daylight hours, may have influenced the distribution of crimes, particularly in property categories where opportunistic theft is more likely. These patterns, while not definitive, offer a starting point for understanding the interplay between seasonal rhythms and local crime dynamics.

February 2025 saw a 100% increase in vehicle crime, rising from zero to two incidents, a shift that may reflect changes in local traffic patterns or seasonal activity. Shoplifting, the second most common crime, surged by 50% (6 to 9 incidents), a figure that is 110% above the UK average for this category. This spike, coupled with a 33.3% increase in criminal damage and arson, suggests a seasonal imbalance in property crime, possibly linked to the pre-spring lull in outdoor activity. Conversely, anti-social behaviour and other theft both declined, with the latter dropping by 50% (2 to 1 incidents), a trend that may indicate temporary de-escalation in community tensions. The area’s violent crime rate of 1.9 per 1,000 is 19% below the UK average, a statistic that aligns with the built-up area’s likely lower population density and more controlled environment compared to major urban centres. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of local crime patterns, where specific categories can fluctuate sharply while others remain stable.

Lenham and Harrietsham’s February 2025 crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents marks a 17.9% increase from the previous month’s 4.1 per 1,000. This rise, though modest, contrasts with the area’s consistent performance relative to the UK average, which remains 26.9% lower. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day in February, a figure that, while low, reflects the small population of 6,776. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 205 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents in a way that is directly relatable to local households. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area’s crime burden is distributed across fewer people than the national average, a factor that may partly explain its lower overall rate. However, the month-on-month increase suggests localised shifts in activity, potentially linked to seasonal transitions or temporary spikes in specific crime types. This contrast between the area’s historical trend and its recent upward movement invites further scrutiny of factors influencing February’s figures.