Tunbridge Wells Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Tunbridge Wells' overall crime rate in December 2025 stood at 5.9 per 1,000, 15.7% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000. This figure, while significantly lower than the national benchmark, masks a combination of crime types that reflect both seasonal and local characteristics. Violence and sexual offences dominated the landscape, contributing 37.9% of all reported crimes, with a rate of 2.2 per 1,000—14% below the UK average. This category's prominence may be partly explained by the town's mix of residential and commercial areas, where interactions in public spaces can escalate tensions during the festive season. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, accounting for 18.4% of all crimes, and was 18% above the UK average. This disparity could be linked to the area's suburban density and the increased social activity typical of December, when community events and holiday gatherings are common. Other theft, at 8.5% of total crimes, also showed a slight deficit compared to the UK average, highlighting a broader trend of lower property-related crime in the area. This pattern may be consistent with Tunbridge Wells' character as a relatively stable, low-crime suburb where property crime is less prevalent than in more densely populated urban centres. Seasonal factors, including the dark evenings of December and the presence of empty homes during the holidays, may have contributed to the rise in burglary, which saw a 100% increase from November to December. However, the overall rate remains firmly below the UK average, suggesting that local efforts in crime prevention and community engagement have had a measurable impact. The data also illustrates the importance of understanding how different crime types respond to seasonal rhythms, with violent and anti-social crimes often spiking during periods of reduced visibility and increased social interaction.

December 2025 saw a 100% increase in burglary cases, rising from 14 to 28, a sharp contrast to the UK average burglary rate of 0.3 per 1,000. This spike, while still 29% below the UK average, may be linked to seasonal factors such as empty homes during the holiday period. Meanwhile, violent crimes surged by 24.1%, from 216 to 268, despite remaining 14% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This category's dominance—accounting for 37.9% of all crimes—suggests a persistent challenge in managing public safety, particularly during the darker, colder evenings of December. Anti-social behaviour also rose by 38.7%, from 31 to 43, a category that is 18% above the UK average of 0.9 per 1,000. This increase may reflect the pressures of the festive season, including increased social gatherings and potential conflicts in public spaces.

Tunbridge Wells' crime rate in December 2025 rose 5.3% from November's 5.6 per 1,000 to 5.9 per 1,000, reflecting a slight upward trend despite remaining 15.7% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced 23 crimes per day in December, a figure that contextualises the scale of activity for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 169 residents, a monthly aggregate that highlights the frequency of incidents relative to the population. This rate is consistent with the area's suburban character, where crime tends to be distributed across multiple smaller communities rather than concentrated in dense urban zones. The population context further illustrates that even with a relatively low overall rate, the impact on individual residents remains tangible, particularly during periods of heightened activity such as the holiday season.