Paddock Wood Crime Rate April 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For a built-up area within Tunbridge Wells with a population of 8,188, 59 crimes were recorded in April 2025, translating to a crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents. This places Paddock Wood 6.5% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, a figure that reflects a combination of effective local policing and seasonal dynamics. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 30.5% of all reported incidents (18 cases), followed by criminal damage and arson (15.3%) and anti-social behaviour (11.9%). These figures align with the area's character as a commuter hub with a mix of residential and retail activity, where seasonal transitions in April—such as Easter events and increased outdoor activity—may partly explain fluctuations in crime patterns. The relatively low rate of violent crime compared to the UK average could be attributed to the area's smaller, more tightly knit community structure, which may foster quicker responses to incidents. Meanwhile, the higher-than-average rates of criminal damage and public order offences suggest potential challenges in managing transient populations during peak activity periods, though these remain proportionally modest compared to national trends.

April 2025 saw a dramatic 600% month-on-month increase in public order offences, rising from 1 to 7 incidents. This surge may be linked to the Easter holiday period, which typically sees higher foot traffic and informal gatherings in the area. Conversely, drug-related offences fell sharply by 83.3%, from 6 to 1, a decline that could reflect targeted interventions or seasonal shifts in substance use patterns. The category of criminal damage and arson (9 incidents) was 93% above the UK average, highlighting a localised issue that may be connected to the area's proximity to industrial zones or unsecured properties. Shoplifting offences (5 cases) were 9% below the UK average, indicating the success of retail security measures in the area's high streets. Meanwhile, the complete absence of robbery incidents in April—a category that had one case in March—suggests a positive trend in preventing targeted attacks, though this remains an area requiring sustained vigilance. These shifts underscore the importance of context-specific policing strategies, particularly in managing public order during seasonal events while maintaining focus on persistent crime types like property damage.

The crime rate in April 2025 (7.2 per 1,000) marked a 13.1% decrease from the previous month's rate of 8.3 per 1,000, reflecting a notable improvement in local safety metrics. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day in April, a figure that translates to one reported crime for roughly every 139 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides a tangible sense of risk for residents, placing Paddock Wood in a position where crime remains relatively rare but not entirely absent. When compared to the UK average, the area's overall performance is consistently better, though specific categories like public order offences and criminal damage highlight areas where local conditions diverge from national patterns. The population-scaled perspective—59 crimes among 8,188 residents—further contextualises these figures, showing that while the area is not immune to crime, its rates remain well below the national benchmark. This comparative advantage may stem from a combination of community cohesion, targeted policing, and the area's suburban character, which limits some of the factors that drive crime in more densely populated urban centres.