Crime report reveals a rise in key offences

BUT RECORDED VICTIM-BASED CRIMES ARE DOWN OVERALL

- By SIMON FINLAY Local democracy reporter

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott and Chief Constable Tim Smith

KENT has seen some sharp rises in sexual offences, antisocial behaviour and shoplifting, according to new crime figures.

The statistics relate to the July to September quarter, with comparisons to those of a year ago.

Despite the spike in certain types of crime in the county, overall victim-based offending is down significantly.

The figures were published in the Chief Constable Tim Smith’s report to the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner's Performance and Delivery Board, chaired by the commissioner Matthew Scott.

Antisocial behaviour rose by 9.3 per cent year on year, with 29,680 offences, but the quarterly figures shot up by 24.8 per cent, from 7,939 to 9,907. The Kent Police report claims: “This is likely in part to be due to a change in recording practices which took place in June 2025, and as such the impact was minimal compared to the current quarter”.

Rape and serious sexual assaults are up on last year by 4.4 per cent (1,986 offences) and 1 per cent (2,806) respectively. The latter is down by 8 per cent (679) in the last quarter.