Otford and Kemsing Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In November 2023, Otford and Kemsing maintained a crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 41.3% below the UK average of 7.5. This stark divergence highlights the area’s relatively low exposure to crime compared to national trends. Property crimes dominated the monthly tally, accounting for 21 of 33 total incidents (63.6%), while violent crimes numbered 7 (21.2%). The imbalance between property and violent crime suggests a landscape shaped by factors such as residential stability and limited public spaces conducive to confrontations. Seasonal dynamics in November—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and shorter evenings—may have influenced patterns, though the absence of significant spikes in violent crime despite these events indicates a degree of community resilience. Property crime’s dominance is consistent with the area’s character as a built-up zone within Sevenoaks, where retail activity and commuter traffic could contribute to theft and vehicle-related incidents. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.6 per 1,000, yet Otford and Kemsing recorded 0.9 per 1,000, 65% below the national benchmark, reinforcing the area’s safer profile in this category. However, specific property crime types like burglary (0.7 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.7 per 1,000) exceeded UK averages by 106% and 40% respectively, indicating vulnerabilities in securing homes and vehicles. These figures may reflect local challenges such as older housing stock or limited CCTV coverage, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections.

November 2023 saw marked shifts in crime trends, with other theft and vehicle crime surging by 200% and 150% respectively compared to the previous month. These increases, from 2 to 6 incidents for other theft and 2 to 5 for vehicle crime, suggest heightened activity during Black Friday shopping or late-night commuter movements. Conversely, violent crimes fell by 36.4% (from 11 to 7), aligning with the area’s consistent underperformance against the UK average for violence and sexual offences (65% below). The rise in burglary (15.2% of total crimes) and vehicle crime (15.2% of total crimes) also outpaced UK rates by substantial margins, with burglary being 106% above the national average (0.3 per 1,000). This contrast between property crime and violent crime underscores a landscape where personal safety is relatively secure but property security remains a concern. For residents, the surge in other theft—particularly during high-traffic shopping periods—may warrant increased vigilance in public spaces. Meanwhile, the decline in violent crime, despite Bonfire Night’s potential for unrest, could indicate effective community policing or a lack of incidents in public areas. The data also reveals anti-social behaviour and other crime categories dropped by 50%, suggesting possible seasonal lulls or targeted interventions in these areas.

The crime rate in November 2023 (4.4 per 1,000) marked a 13.8% increase from the previous month’s 3.8 per 1,000, though it remains significantly below the UK average. This upward shift, however, does not erase the area’s long-term trend of lower crime exposure. On a daily basis, Otford and Kemsing experienced approximately one crime per day in November—a rate that, while modest, reflects the cumulative impact of property-related incidents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 229 residents, a figure that, when contextualised against the area’s population of 7,545, highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. This monthly exposure is particularly striking when considering the UK average for burglary (0.3 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.5 per 1,000), both of which Otford and Kemsing exceeded by 106% and 40% respectively. These disparities may stem from the area’s proximity to commuter routes or its built-up nature, which could attract opportunistic theft. Despite the 13.8% monthly increase, the overall crime rate still lingers well below the UK benchmark, reinforcing the area’s status as a relatively safe locality within the Sevenoaks district. For residents, the data underscores that while crime is not absent, its scale and nature are distinct from national norms, with property security emerging as a more pressing concern than personal safety.