Southborough Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Southborough’s crime rate in February 2025 stood at 3.6 per 1,000 residents, marking a 46.3% deficit compared to the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area’s relative safety, particularly in violent crime categories. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 42.1% of total crimes, with a rate of 1.5 per 1,000 — 36% below the UK average for that category. Anti-social behaviour followed at 21.1% of all crimes, also significantly lower than the national benchmark. The seasonal context of February, a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull, likely contributes to the subdued crime profile. While property crimes constituted only 23.7% of the total, their low frequency — 9 incidents — aligns with the area’s character as a largely residential, low-density built-up zone within Tunbridge Wells. The absence of major retail hubs or nightlife districts may explain the limited occurrence of shoplifting or public order offences, which are typically more prevalent in urban centres. This pattern suggests that Southborough’s crime profile is shaped by its quieter, community-focused environment, where policing efforts and local engagement may play a role in maintaining lower crime levels.

February saw notable shifts in crime trends, with vehicle crime surging by 100% (from 1 to 2 incidents) — a stark outlier in an otherwise stable month. This increase, though modest in absolute terms, may reflect seasonal factors such as colder weather prompting more cautious driving behaviour or temporary disruptions in vehicle security measures. Conversely, burglary rates fell by 66.7% (from 3 to 1), aligning with the broader downward trend in property crimes. Anti-social behaviour also rose by 14.3%, a minor uptick that could be attributed to post-holiday social dynamics or localised events. The breakdown reveals that Southborough’s violent crime rate remains 36% below the UK average, despite violence and sexual offences comprising 42.1% of all crimes. This suggests a unique balance between local crime patterns and national benchmarks, influenced by the area’s demographics or community policing strategies. The 'Other crime' category — which includes unclassified offences — was 25% above the UK average, highlighting a potential gap in categorisation or a specific local issue warranting further scrutiny. For residents, the sharp drop in burglary and public order crimes offers a tangible reassurance of improved safety compared to the previous month.

February’s crime rate of 3.6 per 1,000 represents a 32.1% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.3 per 1,000, illustrating a marked improvement in the area’s crime profile. This decline is particularly evident when considering the daily crime context: 38 total crimes over 28 days equate to roughly 1 crime per day — a low frequency that places Southborough firmly in the safer end of the UK spectrum. On a monthly basis, the exposure rate of 1 crime per 278 residents further reinforces this safety narrative, meaning that over the course of the month, the average resident faced a significantly lower risk of victimisation than the UK average. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the area’s resilience: with 10,560 residents, the modest total of 38 crimes reflects a well-managed crime environment. This contrast becomes even more pronounced when compared to the UK’s broader context, where the average resident faces a much higher likelihood of encountering crime. The drop in violent crimes — from 21.1% of total crimes in January to 42.1% in February — may indicate a shift in crime dynamics. These figures collectively illustrate Southborough as an area where community-focused policing, low population density, and seasonal factors combine to maintain a consistently low crime rate.