Tonbridge and Malling Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Tonbridge and Malling’s crime rate for January 2024 was 5.8 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 21.6% below the UK average of 7.4. This marked safety advantage aligns with the district’s likely mix of rural and semi-urban characteristics, where lower population density and community-focused policing may contribute to reduced criminal activity. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 33.3% of all incidents. While this category was 27% below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), the local rate of 1.9 per 1,000 still reflects a significant portion of total crime. Criminal damage and arson followed, at 13.4% of incidents, with a rate of 0.8 per 1,000—40% above the UK average. This anomaly may be tied to local infrastructure or seasonal factors, such as the post-holiday period, which could see increased vandalism or property neglect. Shoplifting, at 10.4% of total crimes, matched the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), suggesting that retail presence in the area is neither a major driver nor inhibitor of such offences. Seasonal context in January typically includes reduced retail footfall and shorter days, which may temper outdoor crimes but not entirely eliminate them. The data also shows a stark contrast in anti-social behaviour, which was 39% below the UK average (0.6 vs 1.0 per 1,000), reflecting effective local community engagement or lower population density. These patterns collectively illustrate a combination of geographic and demographic factors shaping the area’s crime profile.

January 2024 saw sharp increases in bicycle theft and robbery, both surging by 200% compared to December. This jump from 3 to 9 incidents in each category may reflect seasonal factors, such as colder weather driving more indoor activity and potential for unsecured bikes. Conversely, theft from the person fell by 50%, dropping from 2 to 1, a decline that could align with reduced foot traffic during the post-holiday period. Criminal damage and arson also stood out, with a rate of 0.8 per 1,000—40% above the UK average of 0.6. This discrepancy may be linked to local infrastructure or community-specific challenges, though further data would be needed to confirm. Meanwhile, burglary decreased by 27.7%, from 47 to 34 incidents, a trend consistent with seasonal patterns of reduced outdoor activity and retail presence.

Tonbridge and Malling’s crime rate remained stable in January 2024, matching the previous month’s rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no significant short-term shifts in criminal activity, though the area’s overall rate remains 21.6% below the UK average. Daily crime statistics show an average of 26 reported incidents per day, a figure that, while locally contextual, provides residents with a tangible sense of frequency. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 173 residents, a monthly exposure rate that reflects the area’s population of 136,853. This figure, when compared to national aggregates (which are not provided here), highlights the importance of localized data in understanding community safety. The population-scaled perspective underscores that while the area is safer than the UK average, the absolute number of crimes still requires attention, particularly in categories like criminal damage and arson, which exceed national benchmarks.