Paddock Wood Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Anti-social behaviour dominates the crime profile in Paddock Wood for October 2025, accounting for 23.1% of all reported incidents. This category, which includes noise disputes, public drunkenness, and other disruptive conduct, far exceeds the UK average for the same category by 19%. The overall crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents places the area 16.9% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, reflecting a generally lower crime environment compared to national trends. Shoplifting remains a persistent issue, with 21.2% of total crimes falling into this category — 106% above the UK average. The seasonal context of October, with shorter evenings and Halloween activities, likely contributes to increased anti-social behaviour and public order incidents, though no direct causal link can be confirmed. The balance of crime types shows a strong focus on property-related offences (48% of total crimes), with violent crimes comprising only 15.4% of the total. This contrasts with the UK average, where violent crimes make up a larger share. The area's built-up character within Tunbridge Wells, with its mix of retail and residential spaces, may explain the prominence of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. However, the relatively low overall crime rate suggests effective local policing or community engagement efforts. whether these factors are the primary drivers, but the seasonal context and area characteristics provide plausible explanations for the observed patterns.

October 2025 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories. Public order offences surged by 300%, rising from 1 incident to 4, while 'other crime' increased by 200%, jumping from 1 to 3. These spikes may be linked to Halloween-related activities or increased community events during the month. Conversely, violence and sexual offences decreased by 55.6%, dropping from 18 to 8 — a stark contrast to the UK average for this category, which remains 62% higher than Paddock Wood's rate. The shoplifting rate of 1.3 per 1,000 residents (21.2% of total crimes) is 106% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000, highlighting a localised challenge in retail crime prevention. Other theft offences also exceeded UK rates by 73%, with 0.9 per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 0.5 per 1,000. This suggests that while the area's overall crime rate is below the UK average, specific categories like theft and shoplifting remain high. Residents may find the 16.9% gap between Paddock Wood's rate and the UK average particularly notable, though this figure does not directly indicate safety levels without further context on local demographics or policing strategies.

The crime rate in Paddock Wood for October 2025 rose slightly from 6.0 per 1,000 in September to 6.4 per 1,000, reflecting a 6.2% increase. This monthly change, while modest, highlights the dynamic nature of local crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 reported crimes per day in October — a figure that, while low, underscores the ongoing presence of criminal activity in a built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 157 residents, a monthly exposure rate that may appear high to some but remains below the UK average when adjusted for population size. With a population of 8,188 residents, the 52 total crimes reported in October translate to a relatively low frequency of incidents per individual. This population-scaled perspective is critical for understanding the context of crime in Paddock Wood, as the absolute number of crimes may be misleading without considering the area's size. The 16.9% gap between Paddock Wood's rate and the UK average suggests that the area is generally safer than the national average, though this must be balanced against the specific categories where local rates exceed UK norms. Residents may find the comparison to the UK average useful for benchmarking local safety, though it does not account for unique local factors that could influence crime rates.