Tunbridge Wells Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Tunbridge Wells’ crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000 residents in January 2024 positions it 24.3% below the UK average, a trend that has persisted for several months. The area’s crime profile is dominated by violence and sexual offences (41.2% of all crimes), anti-social behaviour (14.7%), and shoplifting (9.0%), reflecting the characteristics of a largely rural district with pockets of urban activity. The seasonal context of January, marked by reduced retail footfall and shorter days, likely contributes to the lower incidence of outdoor crimes such as vehicle crime and burglary, both of which remain below UK averages by 20% and 44% respectively. Violence and sexual offences, while constituting the largest share of crimes, are still 12% below the UK average, a statistic that may be attributed to the town’s relatively low population density and community-focused policing strategies. The area’s anti-social behaviour rate of 0.8 per 1,000 is 19% below the UK average, a figure that aligns with the absence of large-scale nightlife venues or densely populated residential zones that typically drive such offences. The persistent underperformance of shoplifting rates compared to the UK average (12% below) could be explained by the town’s mix of small independent retailers and limited high-traffic commercial hubs, which may reduce opportunities for such crimes compared to larger urban centres.

January 2024 saw significant reductions in specific crime categories, with theft from the person plummeting by 87.5% (from 8 to 1) and robbery decreasing by 71.4% (from 7 to 2). These declines may reflect the post-holiday lull in retail activity, which typically sees fewer opportunities for such crimes. Conversely, public order offences rose by 42.9% (28 to 40), a shift that could be linked to increased social gatherings during the Christmas and New Year period. The area’s violent crime rate of 2.3 per 1,000 is 12% below the UK average, a statistic that contrasts with the 41.2% share of total crimes attributed to violence and sexual offences. This mix of decreases and increases underscores the combination of seasonal factors and local dynamics, with anti-social behaviour also rising by 11.2% despite remaining 19% below the UK average.

Tunbridge Wells recorded a crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000 residents in January 2024, marking a 12.1% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 6.4 per 1,000. This reduction aligns with seasonal patterns typical of January, including reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, which may limit opportunities for outdoor crimes. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately 22 crimes reported each day, a figure that contextualises the frequency of incidents for local residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 177 residents, a ratio that places the area’s monthly exposure well below the UK average when scaled to population size. This suggests that, despite the overall crime rate being 24.3% below the UK average, the population density and distribution of incidents contribute to a relatively low risk of personal exposure to crime compared to larger urban centres.