Recorded crime in Gravesham has fallen by almost twice the Kent and Medway average in the past year.
A report shows that reported crime between September 2022 and August 2023 had fallen by 7.8% in the borough, compared to the previous 12 months. This was against a county-wide reduction of 4.7%.
Over that period, Gravesham saw the third-greatest decrease in reported crime of all districts and boroughs in Kent.
The report highlighted:
- The level of violent crime (violence against the person, sexual offences, and robbery) fell significantly. 659 fewer offences, a decrease of 11.8%, compared to the county average of 9.1%. Violent crime in the borough is currently at its lowest level since 2017.
- Robbery offences have reduced by 26.2% from 126 to 93 in the past year. This is greater than the average decrease achieved across Kent and Medway of 14.3%.
- The number of domestic burglaries has fallen by 6.3% (23 fewer). This equates to 8 offences per 1,000 households.
- Burglary affecting business and community buildings has seen a significant reduction of 28.8% (36 fewer offences). This is the second-greatest reduction achieved in any area and a significantly greater decrease than the 9.8% average reduction seen countywide.
- In the year ending August 2023, Gravesham recorded a fall of 26.4% in theft of motor vehicles compared to a countywide average reduction of 2.9%.
- Shoplifting offences have fallen by 4.8%. The county has seen shoplifting increase by almost a fifth (19.7%).
- Criminal damage offences have also seen a fall of 6.9% and the rate of offences per 1,000 population in Gravesham (11.5 offences) is close to the Kent average of 11.1.
Two key areas where figures have risen are for drugs related offences and anti-social behaviour.
Recorded drug trafficking offences have increased in Gravesham by 322.2% from 90 to 380 in the most recent 12 months. This is compared to the previous year, against to a countywide increase of 106.4%.
However, the report explains this increase is due to a proactive policing approach taken locally to tackle drug supply and county lines activity as a matter of priority. Rather than an indication of a dramatic increase in offences, an approach that is reducing the availability of drugs in the Borough.
It’s a similar picture for ASB offences which have risen by 9.9%. Tackling ASB has continued to be treated as high priority by the council. Strong messaging encouraging a zero-tolerance stance and emphasising the importance reporting of incidents to the police, agencies, all contribute to increased reports.
Commenting on the report, Cllr John Burden, Leader said: “What these figures show is there is a real disconnect between the actual levels of crime we are seeing in the borough and the perception of and fear of crime, which is often fuelled through rumours and misinformation being shared as fact on social media, where isolated cases of violent crime in particular can be blown up into something they aren’t.
“Anti-social behaviour from street drinkers and large numbers of school age children in certain parts of the town centre are also contributors to this overall perception of crime being on the rise, when it is in fact falling under nearly all measures. This is something we are acutely aware of and working hard with our colleagues at Kent Police to address.”
Cllr Burden added that the perception issue had been highlighted by a recent Night-time Economy Audit. Council officers spent a Friday evening in Gravesend town centre speaking to members of the public, asking how safe they felt venues and public spaces were.
When asked how safe people felt in the town centre in the evening, the most common response was a rating of 7 out of 10.
Cllr Burden said: “I suspect this figure would look very different if the question was asked of people who do not go into the town centre at night, suggesting that those using the town in the evening are more likely to feel safe than those put off from visiting by social media or local news stories.
“And we are working to improve that feeling of safety even further through our Best Bar None and Safe Spaces initiatives, where local venues and businesses are working with us to inspire public confidence in the safety of our town.”
He added that the council’s Community Safety Unit works with Kent Police to build intelligence and counter issues around the borough.
Anti-social behaviour reports during Halloween were kept to a minimum. Police patrolled problem areas including Riverview Park, Kings Farm, Valley Drive, Thong Lane, Leander Drive, Northfleet, Istead Rise, Vigo, and Westcourt.
As a result, dispersal powers were used, several community resolutions were issued. Several fireworks were seized from individuals, and a number of young people were taken home.
Police were adopting a similar approach for the weekend of 4 and 5 November.
Cllr Burden said: “We understand that the few unacceptable incidents will always garner the most publicity, especially on social media, while the good work goes unnoticed.
“However, we must not allow that to mask the effort going on to continue to drive down crime in the Borough, and the success that work is having.
“By just about every measure, crime is falling in Gravesham, whatever people’s perceptions may lead them to believe, and we will work to ensure that trend continues.”
Kent Police’s District Commander for Gravesham, Chief Inspector Will Lay, said: “Gravesham has many residents and visitors who work in the area, use the busy retail centre and enjoy the vibrant night-time economy. We work closely with partners to ensure those frequenting the borough can feel safe and reassured.
“Gravesham, as with every other district in Kent, is benefitting from a dedicated team of officers who regularly patrol on foot in uniform and in plain clothes and can respond promptly to reports of incidents.
“These teams, which were introduced as part of the new enhanced neighbourhood policing model, are committed to preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, and work closely with other agencies to identify potential issues and intervene at an early stage.
“In addition to officers who patrol to keep our streets safe, we also have teams dedicated to tackling domestic related crime, bringing offenders to justice and supporting vulnerable victims.
“The reduction in crime over the last year is encouraging but we are not complacent and remain determined to tackle persistent and dangerous offenders.
“This work depends on assistance from members of the public and I would urge anyone who has concerns about crime or anti-social behaviour to make a report via our website. This will allow us to understand what is happening in the area and deploy our resources effectively.
“If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.”