Recorded crime in Kent fell by 2% last year, new data published today shows.

Kent Police recorded 4,244 fewer offences in 2019 compared with the year before, at the same time as crime across the country dropped by 5% according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. 

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Matthew Scott, has welcomed the news.

He said:

‘That there were 4,244 fewer victims of crime in Kent 2019 is great to hear. This is testament to the hard work of Kent Police officers and staff throughout last year, including the hundreds of new recruits local people paid for through their council tax precept.

‘That there has been a marked decrease in things like violent crime, burglary, and deaths on our roads, is particularly pleasing to see. Kent Police has come a long way in improving how it records crime so the public can be confident these figures are accurate.’

Mr Scott anticipates data for early 2020, when published this summer, will show further decreases in recorded crime partly as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown measures.

He added:

‘Still, neither police recorded crime data nor the Crime Survey for England and Wales are perfect measures of police performance. They can never reflect all the great work policing does – things like community engagement, crime prevention, safeguarding victims, or dealing with people in mental health crisis. When holding the Chief Constable to account, I will continue to consider all of these issues, rather than relying on raw data alone.’