Paddock Wood Crime Rate November 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In November 2025, Paddock Wood, a built-up area within Tunbridge Wells, recorded a crime rate of 8.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 19.2% above the UK average of 7.3. This rate, while not extreme, reflects a combination of local factors and seasonal dynamics. The most significant crime categories were violence and sexual offences (24 incidents, 33.8% of total), anti-social behaviour (20 incidents, 28.2%), and other theft (12 incidents, 16.9%). The dominance of violent crime over property crime marks a notable shift, with violent offences now accounting for nearly a third of all incidents. This balance may be influenced by the area’s character as a commuter hub and small urban centre, where transient populations and late-night activity could contribute to higher rates of interpersonal crime. Seasonal factors also play a role, with November’s dark evenings, Bonfire Night, and the commercial activity of Black Friday increasing opportunities for violence and anti-social behaviour. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.6 per 1,000, meaning Paddock Wood’s rate is 13% higher, suggesting a localised concentration of risk. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour is 126% above the UK average, indicating a persistent challenge in managing disruptive conduct, which may be tied to the area’s limited public space and high foot traffic. The relatively low rates of shoplifting (5.6% of total crimes) and public order offences (1.4%) contrast with the UK averages, hinting at differences in local policing priorities or community engagement strategies. As the year progresses, the interplay between these trends and broader societal changes will be critical to monitor.

November 2025 saw a dramatic 200% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 8 to 24 incidents—a figure that now constitutes 33.8% of all reported crimes. This surge places the category 13% above the UK average and suggests a significant shift in the local crime balance, with violent crime now rivaling property crime as a dominant concern. Other theft also rose sharply, climbing 71.4% to 12 incidents, while vehicle crime increased by 66.7%, reflecting potential vulnerabilities in local security infrastructure. Conversely, public order offences fell by 75%, and shoplifting dropped by 63.6%, indicating a possible reallocation of criminal activity toward more serious or high-impact categories. Anti-social behaviour, which remains 126% above the UK average, accounted for 28.2% of all crimes, highlighting persistent challenges in community safety that may be exacerbated by seasonal factors such as dark evenings and the proximity of Bonfire Night.

The crime rate in Paddock Wood rose by 36.5% from 6.4 per 1,000 in the previous month to 8.7 per 1,000 in November 2025, marking the sharpest increase since early 2024. This shift raises questions about local factors influencing the upward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day in November, a figure that, while modest, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents within a built-up area. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 115 residents, a statistic that underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the community size. This level of exposure is higher than the UK average when considering the area’s population density and the distribution of crime types, which includes a significant proportion of anti-social behaviour and violence. The contrast between Paddock Wood’s crime profile and the national average highlights the unique challenges faced by this specific locality, particularly in managing high-impact, low-frequency crimes that affect community well-being.