Westerham Crime Rate

Westerham is a historic market town with a solid safety score of 80/100. The overall crime rate stands at 88.4 per 1,000 residents, which is slightly below the UK average of 93.1. Encouragingly, criminal activity in the area is on a downward trend, having decreased by 10.6% year-over-year. While the property crime rate of 37.4 per 1,000 people is slightly above the national average of 32.9, the town remains a safe place to live and work. Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crime type, followed by anti-social behaviour and theft. These statistics reflect the town's role as a local commercial hub, which typically sees higher activity than smaller surrounding villages.

In Westerham, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 31.6% of all recorded incidents with 91 cases. Anti-social behaviour and other theft are tied for the second most common issues, each representing 14.2% of the total. Criminal damage and arson also feature prominently, making up 12.8% of reported crimes.

The property crime rate in Westerham is 37.4 per 1,000 people, which is slightly higher than the UK average of 32.9. This total includes 41 cases of other theft, 26 vehicle crimes, 9 incidents of shoplifting, and 6 burglaries. For residents and business owners, this indicates that theft-related offences are a primary concern. The high percentage of theft, particularly during the afternoon, suggests that opportunistic crime in commercial and residential areas is a key factor. Implementing robust security measures for both homes and vehicles is essential to mitigate these risks.

Westerham is seeing a positive safety trend, with an overall 10.6% decrease in crime year-over-year. Monthly data shows that the crime rate was highest in late 2024, reaching 10.1 per 1,000 residents in both November and December. However, 2025 has seen generally lower rates, with a significant drop to 5.2 in January and a low of 4.9 in September. While there was a slight seasonal increase during the summer months, peaking at 8.6 in August, the overall trajectory remains downward, indicating that the town is becoming safer for its residents.

How To Keep Safe in Westerham

The most frequent crime type in Westerham is violence and sexual offences. To maintain your personal safety, especially during evening hours, it is advisable to stay in well-lit, populated areas and avoid shortcuts through unlit footpaths or parks. If you are walking alone, stay alert and avoid being distracted by your phone or wearing noise-cancelling headphones.

Given that other theft and anti-social behaviour are also common, it is important to be vigilant in public spaces. Keep your personal belongings secure and never leave bags unattended in cafes or restaurants. For residents, securing your home's perimeter is key; motion-activated lighting and visible security systems can act as a strong deterrent against both theft and anti-social behaviour. If you are out late, consider using a personal safety app to share your journey with friends or family. Always trust your instincts—if a situation feels uncomfortable, move to a busier, well-lit location immediately.

Crime in Westerham follows distinct time-based patterns. During the morning and afternoon, theft-related offences are at their highest, accounting for 54% and 62% of incidents respectively. This likely reflects activity in the town's commercial areas during business hours. As the day transitions into evening, there is a shift toward 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and violence, which make up 50% of reports. At night (12am - 6am), vehicle crime becomes the most significant concern, representing 44% of all incidents, suggesting that parked vehicles are primary targets during the early hours.

In comparison to its immediate neighbours, Westerham has a higher recorded crime rate. Nearby settlements such as Brasted, Brasted Chart, Froghole, and Crockham Hill all report crime rates of 0.0 per 1,000 residents. However, it is important to note that these are small, primarily residential hamlets, whereas Westerham is a busy town with shops, restaurants, and significant visitor traffic. When compared to larger towns in the Sevenoaks district, Westerham maintains a respectable safety profile, especially given its consistent year-over-year reduction in crime.

With a property crime rate of 37.4 per 1,000 people, residents of Westerham should be particularly attentive to the security of their homes and vehicles. Traditional security systems, such as Ring or Nest, provide a reactive service—they record video of a crime as it happens and notify you after the fact. In many cases, this is too late to prevent theft or damage.

For those seeking genuine peace of mind, a proactive AI-powered system like scOS is the recommended alternative. scOS monitors your property's boundary in real-time, using multi-camera intelligence to identify threats before they reach your door. In an area like Westerham, where theft is a major component of local crime, 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 active prevention is the most effective way to protect your property.