Paddock Wood Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Paddock Wood's crime profile in February 2025 reveals a combination of seasonal patterns and local dynamics. The overall crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents — 9.0% below the UK average — masks significant variations in crime type distribution. Violence and sexual offences, which now account for 48% of all reported incidents, have risen by 14.3% compared to January. This increase is consistent with winter months in this built-up area, where low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull may contribute to more concentrated social interactions in indoor spaces. The category of criminal damage and arson, at 7 incidents (0.9 per 1,000), is 88% above the UK average, suggesting heightened tensions in local communities or targeted acts of vandalism. Anti-social behaviour, conversely, has fallen 48% below the national average — a figure that may reflect effective policing in public spaces or seasonal shifts in community engagement. The area's position as a commuter hub within Tunbridge Wells likely influences crime patterns, with retail and residential areas driving both property and violent crime. However, the stark contrast between falling vehicle crime (down 50%) and rising other crime (up 100%) highlights the need for more granular analysis of unclassified incidents. As a relatively small built-up area, Paddock Wood's crime profile is shaped by its proximity to larger urban centres while maintaining distinct local characteristics.

February 2025 saw a notable 14.3% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 21 to 24 incidents. This category now accounts for 48% of all reported crimes, significantly outpacing the UK average by 23%. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson rose by 88% above the national average, with 7 incidents recorded. While shoplifting and vehicle crime fell by 75% and 50% respectively, the surge in other crime (up 100% from 2 to 4 incidents) warrants attention. This category, which includes unclassified incidents, is 212% above the UK average — a stark anomaly. The property-crime-to-violent-crime ratio has shifted markedly, with violent crimes now dominating the crime mix (48% vs 30% for property crimes). Residents should be particularly vigilant in areas where anti-social behaviour has fallen 48% below the UK average, as this may indicate underreporting or targeted policing efforts in specific zones.

Paddock Wood's crime rate in February 2025 (6.1 per 1,000 residents) represents an 18.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.5 per 1,000. This decline contrasts with the area's overall position of being 9.0% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day in February — a figure that, while modest, masks shifts in crime type distribution. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 164 residents, a monthly exposure rate that remains significantly lower than the UK's broader average. However, this aggregate figure does not reflect the disproportionate rise in violent crimes, which now account for 48% of all reported incidents. The population context — 8,188 residents — further underscores that even small absolute changes in crime numbers can have meaningful local impacts, particularly in categories like violence and criminal damage that have surged above national averages.