Tunbridge Wells Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences, the most common crime category in Tunbridge Wells for December 2024, were 22% below the UK average at 2.0 per 1,000 residents. This stark contrast to national trends highlights a unique pattern in this Kent town, where property crimes and violent incidents remain low compared to the UK as a whole. The area’s overall crime rate of 5.1 per 1,000 residents — 28.2% below the UK average — suggests a combination of local factors, including the town’s compact layout and seasonal dynamics. With 234 violent crimes reported, this category accounted for nearly 40% of all incidents, a share significantly higher than property crimes (37%) or anti-social behaviour (13%). The dominance of violence-related offences may reflect the town’s social mix, where a mix of retail hubs and residential areas creates micro-environments prone to interpersonal conflict. December’s seasonal context — with its long evenings, holiday shopping crowds, and empty homes — likely contributes to this pattern, though the rate of violent crime remains lower than in comparable urban centres. Shoplifting, at 0.6 per 1,000, was 5% above the UK average, potentially linked to increased foot traffic in retail zones during the festive period. This data illustrates a combination of local geography and national trends, with Tunbridge Wells’ crime profile shaped by its position as a commuter town with a strong retail core.

December 2024 saw a 100% increase in theft from the person, rising from 1 to 2 incidents — a stark outlier in an otherwise stable month. This spike, though small in absolute terms, may reflect the increased foot traffic and festive distractions in town centres during the holiday season. Conversely, robbery rates fell by 60%, from 5 to 2 incidents, a decline consistent with the broader trend of reduced property crimes in the area. Drug-related offences also dropped by 45.8%, from 24 to 13 cases, a shift that may align with seasonal patterns of reduced nightlife activity. Shoplifting, the only category above the UK average, rose slightly to 71 incidents, though this remains a small proportion of overall crime (11.7%). The town’s violent crime rate — 2.0 per 1,000 — was 22% below the UK average, a gap that may reflect Tunbridge Wells’ relatively low population density and strong community policing presence. For residents, the most immediately relevant finding is the 100% increase in theft from the person, a reminder to remain vigilant in crowded areas during the festive season.

Tunbridge Wells’ crime rate in December 2024 (5.1 per 1,000) marked a 9.3% decline from the previous month’s rate of 5.6 per 1,000, continuing a downward trend that has characterised the year. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 20 crimes per day — a figure that, while modest, translates to a monthly exposure rate of one reported crime for every 197 residents. This ratio places Tunbridge Wells among the safer local authority districts in England, though this aggregate measure does not account for variations in crime type or location. The population context further underscores the town’s relative safety: with 119,694 residents, the 607 total crimes reported in December equate to a rate that is 28.2% below the UK average. This disparity may be attributed to Tunbridge Wells’ mix of suburban and rural characteristics, which tend to correlate with lower crime rates compared to densely populated urban areas. The month-on-month decrease, combined with the town’s consistently low violent crime rate, suggests that local factors — such as effective policing strategies and the town’s compact layout — are likely contributing to its sustained safety record.