Pembury Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Pembury's June 2023 crime rate of 8.3 per 1,000 places it 2.4% below the UK average, a small but notable distinction in a built-up area within Tunbridge Wells. This figure sits within a broader national context where the average rate stands at 8.5 per 1,000, highlighting Pembury's relative safety despite local challenges. The crime profile reveals a striking imbalance, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 66.7% of all reported crimes. This dominance of violent crime is 88% above the UK average for the category, a figure that contrasts sharply with the area's overall rate. Public order offences, at 8.3% of the total, were 4% above the UK average, suggesting potential tensions in community interactions during the summer months. The seasonal context of June—a time when tourism begins to pick up in nearby coastal areas—may have influenced these patterns, though the built-up nature of Pembury itself likely plays a more direct role. The low property crime rate, with only 9 incidents (18.75% of total), is consistent with the area's character as a relatively low-density residential zone. This contrast between violent and property crime highlights the need for targeted policing strategies that address the specific challenges of a commuter town with a mix of residential and commercial spaces. The data also shows that anti-social behaviour and criminal damage rates are significantly below UK averages, a trend that may be attributable to local community engagement initiatives or the area's smaller scale, where social cohesion is more easily maintained. These findings underscore the importance of contextualising crime statistics within the unique geography and demographics of Pembury, rather than applying broad national trends uncritically.

June 2023 saw a 100% increase in burglary, with one incident reported compared to none in May. Anti-social behaviour rose by 50%, and public order offences increased by 33.3%, reflecting potential shifts in community dynamics during the summer. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 50% from four to two incidents, and criminal damage and arson dropped by 40%, suggesting seasonal or situational factors may have influenced these trends. Violent crimes, at 5.5 per 1,000, were 88% above the UK average for this category, a stark contrast to the area's overall rate being 2.4% below the national figure. This divergence highlights the need for targeted interventions in violent crime prevention. The 66.7% share of violent offences in the total crime count underscores a significant shift in the crime mix compared to other months, with property crimes accounting for only 18.75% of the total. These figures offer residents a concrete understanding of where to focus safety measures.

Pembury's crime rate in June 2023 rose 4.4% compared to May's 8.0 per 1,000, reaching 8.3 per 1,000. This increase, though modest, reflects a broader trend in local policing patterns. Locally, 2 crimes were reported daily on average, a figure that may partly explain heightened awareness among residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 120 residents, a ratio that contextualises the scale of incidents within the built-up area's population of 5,777. This monthly exposure figure, while low compared to UK averages for certain categories, underscores the relative safety of Pembury compared to larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area's crime profile remains concentrated in specific categories, with violent crimes dominating the landscape despite the overall rate being 2.4% below the UK average. This contrast highlights the importance of analysing crime types alongside aggregate figures to avoid overgeneralisation.