Horton Kirby Crime Rate

Horton Kirby is a secure urban settlement with a good safety score of 81/100. The area's overall crime rate is 89.1 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the UK average of 93.1. However, criminal activity in Horton Kirby has seen an increasing trend over the last year, up by 47.3%. Property crime is a significant factor, with a rate of 39.9 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 32.9. Violence and sexual offences are the most common reports, followed by anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Burglary is also a notable concern, representing 13.4% of total crime. Despite the recent uptick, Horton Kirby remains a safe location within the Sevenoaks district.

In Horton Kirby, violence and sexual offences are the most prominent crime type, representing 23.1% of all recorded incidents with 31 cases. Anti-social behaviour follows closely at 21.6%, while criminal damage and arson is the third most common issue at 15.7%. Together, these categories account for over 60% of the area's total crime volume.

The property crime rate in Horton Kirby is 39.9 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK average of 32.9. This total includes 18 burglaries, 10 vehicle crimes, 9 cases of other theft, 1 robbery, and 1 incident of theft from the person. For residents, this indicates that property-related offences are a significant concern, with burglary alone accounting for 13.4% of total crime. The high percentage of burglaries occurring throughout the day and night suggests that properties are being targeted both when residents are away and while they are home. Homeowners should focus on securing their boundaries and implementing robust security measures to prevent both theft and opportunistic damage, which are key factors in the local crime statistics.

Horton Kirby has seen an increasing trend in crime over the past year, with a 47.3% rise in total offences. Analysis of the monthly data shows that the crime rate peaked in February 2025 at 12.6 per 1,000 residents. However, the rate has generally trended downwards from this peak, reaching a low of 4.0 in September 2025. By October 2025, the rate stood at 8.0 per 1,000. This overall upward trajectory suggests that while the year-over-year figure is up, the area has seen some stabilization in recent months.

How To Keep Safe in Horton Kirby

The most common crime type in Horton Kirby is violence and sexual offences. While overall numbers are low, personal safety remains paramount. When walking in the area, particularly after dark, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid shortcuts through unlit footpaths. Staying alert and avoiding distractions like mobile phones or headphones can significantly improve your situational awareness.

Burglary is a significant concern, particularly during the afternoon and night. To keep your home safe, always ensure windows and doors are locked when you are out, even for short periods. Installing motion-activated floodlights and ensuring that gates and fences are in good repair can act as a significant deterrent. Anti-social behaviour is also a notable factor, so residents should consider securing their property boundaries. Joining a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme can also help you stay informed about any suspicious activity in the village. Always trust your instincts; if you feel uncomfortable in a particular spot, move to a more public, well-lit area as quickly as possible. For vehicle safety, ensure your car is locked and valuables are removed, especially at night when vehicle crime is more likely to occur.

Crime in Horton Kirby follows clear temporal trends. Morning and afternoon hours are dominated by theft-related offences and burglaries, with the afternoon accounting for 40% of total burglary incidents. This suggests opportunistic crime during busy daytime hours. As the day moves into evening, 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, become more prominent at 47% of reports. Night-time (12am - 6am) sees a shift, with burglary accounting for 39% and vehicle crime accounting for 25% of incidents, highlighting the need for secure overnight protection of homes and vehicles.

In the local context, Horton Kirby is a less safe alternative to nearby South Darenth and Eynsford, which have lower crime rates of 59.4 and 78.0 per 1,000 people respectively. It is safer than nearby Farningham, which reports a higher crime rate of 103.2. Nearby Speed Gate and Swanley Village report crime rates of 0.0, though these are much smaller communities. When compared to other urban settlements in the Sevenoaks region, Horton Kirby maintains a respectable safety profile and remains safer than the national average.

With a property crime rate of 39.9 per 1,000 residents, Horton Kirby is an area where effective home security is essential. The fact that burglary makes up over 13% of total crime highlights the need for a proactive approach. Traditional CCTV systems are often reactive—they provide footage of a crime after it has occurred, which is rarely enough to prevent the loss.

For true protection, a proactive system like scOS is the recommended solution. scOS is an AI-powered security operating system that monitors your property's entire perimeter in real-time. It uses multi-camera intelligence to identify threats at the boundary, allowing for intervention before a crime is committed. In an area like Horton Kirby, where burglary is a significant factor both during the day and at night, scOS's ability to distinguish between a delivery driver and a suspicious individual is invaluable. The system can trigger autonomous responses, such as activating lights or audible warnings, which often causes opportunistic criminals to move on before any harm is done. Moving from recording to prevention is the most effective way to protect your home.