Otford and Kemsing Crime Rate November 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Otford and Kemsing in November 2025 reveals a striking imbalance between violent and property crimes. While property crimes accounted for 33% of the total 33 reported incidents, violent crimes dominated with 42.4% of cases, a shift that may partly explain the area's 39.7% deficit compared to the UK average of 7.3 per 1,000 residents. This built-up area within Sevenoaks, characterised by its mix of residential and commercial zones, saw violence and sexual offences emerge as the most prevalent category, with 14 incidents recorded—equivalent to 1.9 crimes per 1,000 residents. This rate is 26% below the UK average for this category, suggesting a relatively safer environment for such offences compared to national trends. Anti-social behaviour followed with 8 incidents, slightly above the UK average but still a manageable figure. The seasonal context of November—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and extended evening darkness—likely influenced these patterns. Retail activity during the festive period may have contributed to shoplifting incidents, which doubled from zero to three in the month. Meanwhile, the low rates of burglary and vehicle crime (both at 0.4 per 1,000) contrast sharply with UK averages, reflecting the area's lower exposure to high-risk environments. This data underscores the importance of situational factors in shaping local crime dynamics, even within a relatively low-crime region.

The month-on-month surge in violent crime—specifically violence and sexual offences—jumped from 2 to 14 cases, a 600% increase, marking one of the most significant shifts in the area's crime history. This sharp rise, coupled with a 166.7% increase in anti-social behaviour and a 100% rise in shoplifting, indicates a notable shift in the crime mix. While property crimes remained stable, the dominance of violent offences suggests potential pressures on community safety during November. The area's violence rate of 1.9 per 1,000 is 26% below the UK average, a figure that may reflect the effectiveness of local policing or the area's demographic composition. However, the doubling of shoplifting incidents—despite being 37% below the UK average—highlights the impact of seasonal events like Black Friday on retail crime. Residents may find the 1-in-229 resident monthly exposure figure (based on 33 crimes for 7,545 residents) useful for contextualising the low overall risk, though the spike in violent crime warrants attention. The absence of increases in burglary or vehicle crime—both aligned with UK averages—suggests that the area's infrastructure and community engagement may be mitigating certain risks.

The crime rate in November 2025 (4.4 per 1,000 residents) marks a dramatic 174.8% increase from the previous month's rate of 1.6 per 1,000, underscoring a sharp upward trend. On a daily basis, this translates to roughly one crime reported every 30 days in Otford and Kemsing—a figure that, while low, reflects the area's relatively safe environment. Monthly exposure reveals that over the course of November, one reported crime occurred for every 229 residents, a statistic that contextualises the low overall risk for residents. This figure is particularly meaningful when compared to the UK average, as it illustrates how the area's small population and lower crime rate combine to create a unique risk profile. The population-scaled perspective further highlights that, despite the month-on-month rise, the absolute number of crimes remains modest for a community of 7,545 people. This suggests that while the recent spike in violent crime is concerning, the overall scale of crime in Otford and Kemsing remains significantly lower than national benchmarks. The contrast between the area's low burglary and vehicle crime rates—both matching or beating UK averages—and the surge in violence and anti-social behaviour illustrates the combination of local factors and broader trends.