Medway Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Medway’s crime profile in February 2025, accounting for 42.4% of all reported incidents—a stark contrast to the UK average of 2.4 per 1,000 for this category. At 3.3 per 1,000, the local rate is 40% above the national figure, underscoring the area’s particular vulnerability to violent crime. This prominence may be linked to Medway’s status as a major urban centre with a mix of residential and commercial zones, where interpersonal conflicts and nightlife activity could contribute to higher rates. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage also feature prominently, with the former at 1.0 per 1,000 and the latter at 0.7 per 1,000, both above UK averages. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may partially explain the relative stability of these crime types, though the continued dominance of violence suggests deeper systemic issues. Other crime categories, such as shoplifting and public order, show smaller but consistent deviations from national averages, indicating a combination of local factors. The overall crime rate of 7.8 per 1,000, 16.4% above the UK average, highlights the need for targeted interventions in violent crime while also reflecting the area’s broader demographic and geographic characteristics.

February saw a 19.8% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 247 to 296 incidents, suggesting heightened tensions or disruptions in public spaces. Robbery incidents also rose by 15.4%, from 13 to 15, a small but notable shift that may reflect targeted activity or seasonal factors. Conversely, bicycle theft fell sharply by 56.3%, from 16 to 7, possibly linked to reduced outdoor activity in winter. Other crime decreased by 33.9%, from 109 to 72, indicating a potential shift in criminal focus or improved local interventions. Violence and sexual offences remained the dominant category, with a rate of 3.3 per 1,000—40% above the UK average—highlighting the area’s ongoing challenges with violent crime. Meanwhile, vehicle crime fell 19% below the UK average, and theft from the person dropped 100% below, suggesting localized trends that diverge from national patterns.

Medway’s crime rate in February 2025 fell by 6.9% compared to January’s 8.4 per 1,000, reflecting a slight downward trend. This reduction is notable given the area’s historically elevated rates, which remain 16.4% above the UK average. On a daily basis, the local figure of 81 crimes per day underscores the persistent volume of activity, though this does not directly translate to a daily risk for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 129 residents, a ratio that highlights the frequency of incidents in a densely populated local authority district. While the population of 292,655 means the absolute number of crimes is large, the rate per capita remains a key metric for understanding local trends relative to the UK. The decrease in overall crime may partly reflect seasonal patterns, with February marking a pre-spring lull in outdoor activity, though this is balanced by the continued prominence of violent crime.