Tunbridge Wells Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Tunbridge Wells recorded a crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents in September 2025, placing it 33.8% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This continued trend of lower-than-national crime levels aligns with the area's character as a largely suburban district with a strong community focus. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences (180 incidents, 30.6% of total crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (107 incidents, 18.2%) and shoplifting (84 incidents, 14.3%). These figures reflect the local context of a town with a mix of residential areas and commercial centres, where retail spaces and public areas naturally drive certain crime types. Seasonal factors in September—such as the return to school and university freshers' week—may contribute to the prominence of violence and anti-social behaviour, though the overall rate remains well below national averages. The town's lower property crime rate (222 incidents) compared to the UK average also suggests effective local policing strategies or community engagement efforts that may mitigate opportunities for burglary and vehicle crime. Shoplifting in Tunbridge Wells was 15% above the UK average (0.7 vs 0.6 per 1,000), indicating a possible need for targeted retail security measures in high-traffic areas. The data highlights a combination of local demographics and environmental factors shaping crime patterns, with the area maintaining a generally safer profile than the national context.

September 2025 saw a dramatic 50% increase in theft from the person, rising from 2 to 3 incidents. This sharp rise, though still low in absolute terms, may reflect seasonal dynamics such as the influx of university students and increased foot traffic in town centres during freshers' week. Conversely, burglary fell by 30.4% (23 to 16 incidents), likely linked to improved local policing initiatives or seasonal changes in home occupancy patterns. Vehicle crime also declined by 28.6% (28 to 20 incidents), potentially due to reduced summer tourism and fewer parked vehicles in public spaces. The town's performance against UK averages reveals both strengths and areas for attention: while violent crime (1.5 per 1,000) was 42% below the national figure (2.6 per 1,000), shoplifting remained 15% above the UK average. This contrast illustrates the need for tailored interventions in retail zones without compromising broader safety achievements. Residents may find the 33.8% gap between Tunbridge Wells' crime rate and the UK average particularly relevant, as it underscores the effectiveness of local strategies in maintaining a safer environment compared to national trends.

Tunbridge Wells' crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 in September 2025 represents a 16.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.9 per 1,000, indicating a sustained downward trend. Over the course of the month, this translated to roughly 20 crimes per day—a figure that, when contextualised against the area's population of 119,694, means one reported crime occurred for every 203 residents. This monthly exposure rate provides a tangible measure of risk for local residents, though it remains significantly lower than the UK average. The decline from August to September aligns with typical seasonal patterns, as the transition from summer to autumn often sees reduced outdoor activity and fewer tourists in the area. The drop in burglary and vehicle crime further supports this interpretation, suggesting that environmental factors such as shorter evenings and cooler temperatures may deter certain types of crime. However, the sharp rise in theft from the person highlights the complex nature of local crime dynamics, where specific pockets of activity—such as university campuses or town centre hotspots—can drive fluctuations even amid overall declines. This contrast between broad trends and isolated spikes underscores the importance of targeted monitoring and community-specific strategies in maintaining the area's generally low crime profile.