Swale Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Swale's crime profile in November 2024 reveals a distinct emphasis on violent and disorderly crimes, with 37.1% of all reported incidents falling under violence and sexual offences. This contrasts sharply with the UK average, where such crimes account for 16% of the national total. The local pattern suggests a combination of factors including seasonal dynamics and local demographics. With a crime rate of 8.0 per 1,000 residents—5.3% above the UK average of 7.6—Swale's data highlights a combination of community-specific pressures and broader national trends. The prominence of violence and sexual offences may be linked to Swale's status as a coastal district with a mix of residential and tourist areas, where seasonal events like Bonfire Night and Black Friday shopping create concentrated periods of social interaction and potential conflict. Anti-social behaviour, making up 15.1% of crimes, and shoplifting (10.5%) further underscore the influence of commercial activity and public spaces. While property crimes account for 36.2% of total incidents, the violent crime share far exceeds the UK average, pointing to a local imbalance that warrants closer examination. The seasonal context of November—dark evenings, holiday shopping, and community events—likely contributes to these patterns, though the exact causal links remain speculative. This data invites consideration of how Swale's unique geography and population movements shape its crime profile compared to other regions.

November 2024 saw an 11.7% decrease in Swale's overall crime rate compared to October, with the previous month's rate standing at 9.1 per 1,000 residents. However, certain crime categories exhibited significant shifts. Robbery incidents rose by 50.0%, increasing from 6 to 9 cases, a change that may reflect heightened vigilance during holiday shopping periods or altered policing strategies. Public order offences surged by 38.6% (44 to 61), potentially linked to Bonfire Night activities or increased community gatherings. Conversely, theft from the person dropped sharply by 69.2% (13 to 4), due to heightened awareness or seasonal retail security measures. The local profile also reveals stark contrasts with UK averages: violence and sexual offences in Swale are 16% above the national rate, while public order offences are 22% below. This divergence suggests a unique local context where violent crime is more prevalent than in other areas, influenced by Swale's coastal environment and transient populations. Meanwhile, vehicle crime in Swale is 9% below the UK average, aligning with data showing fewer incidents in residential areas compared to more densely populated urban centres. For residents, the 42 crimes reported daily in Swale offer a tangible metric to assess local safety, though this figure remains distinct from national averages.

Swale's November 2024 crime rate of 8.0 per 1,000 residents represents an 11.7% decline from the previous month's 9.1, marking a notable downward trend despite the area's overall rate remaining above the UK average. This reduction translates to 1269 crimes over 30 days, equating to 42 incidents per day—a figure that, while substantial, is lower than the 55 daily crimes recorded in October 2024. On a monthly scale, the 1-in-125 resident ratio underscores the frequency of crime in Swale, though this statistic must be contextualised within the area's population of 158,379. Compared to other regions, Swale's violent crime share (37.1%) is higher than the UK average of 16%, while property crimes account for 36.2% of all incidents—slightly below the UK's 40% average. This divergence suggests that Swale's crime profile is shaped by factors such as its coastal location, which may foster unique social dynamics compared to inland areas. The 5.3% gap between Swale's rate and the UK average highlights the importance of localised factors, though the exact reasons for this discrepancy remain unclear. Residents should consider that while the overall rate has decreased, the persistent overrepresentation of violent crime in Swale compared to the UK average may reflect underlying socioeconomic or geographic characteristics that require further analysis.