Crime figures reveal challenges

CHIEF CONSTABLE: THERE WILL BE NO LET-UP IN DRIVE TO REDUCE OFFENDING

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THE Chief Constable of Kent Police, Tim Smith, has pledged there will "be no let-up" in the drive to bring criminals to book, after figures showed a sharp rise in shoplifting, fraud, and sexual offences in the county.

Mr Smith reported on the force's record in the last financial year (April 2024 to March 2025) to Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott at the quarterly meeting of the county’s performance and delivery board last Wednesday (May 28).

At the meeting, the board reviewed the commissioner’s Making Kent Safer plan for policing in Kent, and heard that the latest report showed 161,621 crimes were recorded in the county in 2024/25 - 2.6 per cent down on the previous year, and 10.6 per cent down over the four years from April 2021 to March 2025.

Victim-based crime, antisocial behaviour, burglary (residential and business), and violent and hate crime all showed significant falls year-on-year.