Royal Tunbridge Wells Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 52,894, the 428 crimes recorded in Royal Tunbridge Wells during May 2024 represent a rate of 8.1 per 1,000 residents—3.6% below the UK average of 8.4. This figure, while lower than the national benchmark, masks a complex distribution across crime types. Violence and sexual offences (151 incidents) accounted for nearly 35% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (84 incidents) at 19.6% and shoplifting (55 incidents) at 12.9%. These proportions suggest a mix of persistent challenges and localised pressures. The seasonal context of May—characterised by longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising—may have contributed to the higher incidence of violence and anti-social behaviour. Meanwhile, shoplifting’s 56% above the UK average (0.6 per 1,000) could reflect the town’s retail density, a factor consistent with its character as a commuter town with a historic high street. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted slightly, with violence making up nearly half of all incidents, a trend that may warrant further analysis in future reports.

May 2024 saw sharp increases in bicycle theft (+200%) and anti-social behaviour (+35.5%), with the latter rising from 62 to 84 incidents. This surge in anti-social behaviour, which is 10% above the UK average, may partly explain the higher-than-usual focus on community policing efforts. Meanwhile, vehicle crime fell by 47.8% (from 23 to 12), aligning with a broader UK trend of reduced vehicle-related offences. Shoplifting in Royal Tunbridge Wells remains 56% above the UK average, with 55 incidents reported. This discrepancy could reflect the town’s retail presence, though no direct causal link is confirmed. Theft from the person also dropped by 50% (from 4 to 2), a change that may be attributed to heightened awareness during longer evenings, a seasonal factor noted in the data.

In May 2024, Royal Tunbridge Wells recorded a crime rate of 8.1 per 1,000 residents, marking a 7.0% increase from the previous month’s rate of 7.6. This rise, though modest, translates to roughly 14 crimes reported each day across the built-up area. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for every 124 residents over the course of the month—a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. With a total of 428 crimes reported, this equates to a rate that, while slightly below the UK average (8.4 per 1,000), reflects a dynamic local environment influenced by seasonal and community-specific factors. The population context further highlights that these figures represent a relatively low incidence of crime compared to larger urban centres, though the distribution across crime types reveals distinct patterns that warrant closer examination.