The effectiveness of the police presence in Westerham, a Built-Up Area (BUA) within Sevenoaks, can be assessed by examining several key indicators. Firstly, Westerham's crime rate stands at 84.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, suggesting a comparatively safer environment. The population of Westerham is 3259, providing context for this figure.
Beyond the raw crime rate, Westerham benefits from a safety score of 82 out of 100, exceeding the UK average of 79. This composite score likely factors in perceptions of safety and other community-level indicators.
However, assessing police effectiveness also requires scrutiny of response times. Data from 2024 indicates a mean immediate response time of 19 minutes. While this demonstrates a relatively swift response for urgent situations, the mean priority response time is considerably longer, at 101 minutes. This extended timeframe for handling priority incidents is an area where improvements could be beneficial. It's important to note that 'immediate' and 'priority' classifications are defined by police protocols and reflect the severity and urgency of the incident reported.
It is crucial to remember that these figures represent averages. Individual experiences may vary, and local factors can influence perceptions of safety and police effectiveness. The data does not provide details on the types of crimes occurring or the reasons behind the response times. Further investigation into these aspects would offer a more complete picture of police performance in Westerham. Residents are encouraged to report any concerns or incidents directly to the police and engage with local community safety initiatives.