Bearsted Crime Overview
Bearsted is the safest small town in Kent, and is the third safest overall out of Kent's 335 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Bearsted in 2020 was 11 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Kent's overall crime rate, coming in 659% lower than the Kent rate of 85 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Bearsted is among the top 10 safest small towns, and the 1,092nd safest location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In January 2015, Bearsted was the worst small town in Kent for other crime, with 3 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.36 per 1,000 inhabitants. November 2015 was also a bad month for Bearsted residents, when it was Kent's most dangerous small town for robbery, recording 1 crime at a rate of 0.12 per 1,000 residents.
The most common crimes in Bearsted are violence and sexual offences, with 34 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 4.1. This is 47% lower than 2019's figure of 50 offences and a difference of 1.91 from 2019's crime rate of 6. Bearsted's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 1 offence recorded in 2020.
Compare Bearsted to other towns and cities
See how Bearsted shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Bearsted and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
Bearsted Crime Map
Summary of Crimes in Bearsted This Year
| Bearsted | Kent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 45 | 5.38 | 48,316 | 25.97 | 383% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1 | 0.12 | 1,165 | 0.63 | 425% safer |
| Burglary | 6 | 0.72 | 7,089 | 3.81 | 429% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 15 | 1.79 | 18,622 | 10.01 | 459% safer |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.24 | 4,217 | 2.27 | 846% safer |
| Other Crime | 6 | 0.72 | 5,115 | 2.75 | 282% safer |
| Other Theft | 7 | 0.84 | 10,954 | 5.89 | 601% safer |
| Public Order | 10 | 1.19 | 13,158 | 7.07 | 494% safer |
| Shoplifting | 4 | 0.48 | 9,225 | 4.96 | 933% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 9 | 1.08 | 9,087 | 4.88 | 352% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 34 | 4.06 | 76,374 | 41.05 | 911% safer |
Crime in Bearsted Compared To Kent
Bearsted Compared to Nearby Small Towns
| Small Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bearsted | 94 | 11.23 | - |
| Herne and Broomfield | 152 | 15.72 | 29% more dangerous |
| Birchington | 219 | 21.35 | 47% more dangerous |
| Kingsnorth | 381 | 30.29 | 63% more dangerous |
| Kings Hill | 345 | 37.29 | 70% more dangerous |
| Boxley | 372 | 38.92 | 71% more dangerous |
Bearsted Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 5 | Getting worse |
| Burglary | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.72 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.8 | Getting worse |
| Drugs | 0.24 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.24 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 0.48 | 0.60 | 0.24 | 0.72 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.84 | Safer |
| Public Order | 0.60 | 0.84 | 1.4 | 1.2 | Getting worse |
| Shoplifting | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.48 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.72 | 1.1 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 3.7 | 9 | 6 | 4.1 | Safer |
Changes In Bearsted's Crime Rates Over Time
Comparing Bearsted to the UK's Major Cities
| Small Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Bearsted | 11.23 | - |
| Barnet | 67.71 | 83% more dangerous |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 85% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 83.22 | 87% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 87% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 87% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 88% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 89% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 90% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 92% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 92% more dangerous |
Crime in Bearsted During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Bearsted change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in August, when Bearsted saw a 200% increase in violence and sexual offences. Bearsted saw a large fall in violence and sexual offences during July, when it fell by 88% compared to July in 2019.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -67% | - | - | +150% | +50% | +67% | +100% | -50% | - | - |
| Burglary | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -50% | - | - |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -50% | - | - | +100% | -67% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Crime | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | +100% | - | - |
| Other Theft | -50% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -33% | - |
| Public Order | - | - | - | - | - | - | +50% | +100% | - | - |
| Shoplifting | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -50% |
| Vehicle Crime | +100% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -20% | -50% | -50% | +150% | -88% | +200% | -20% | -25% | -67% | -60% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Bearsted
What police force serves Bearsted?
Bearsted's local territorial police force is the Kent Police.How dangerous is Bearsted?
Bearsted is the safest small town in Kent.What is Bearsted's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Bearsted are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Bearsted?
Bearsted's least common crime is bicycle theft.Last updated: 01 Apr 2021