According to the Kent Criminal Justic Board, the latest figures from the Home Office for October 2009 to September 2010 show that crime continues to fall in Kent
with 4,389 fewer crimes in Kent and Medway.

Commenting in January 2011 on the news that there has been a 10.4% reduction in criminal damage and 11.5% reduction in offences against vehicles, Acting Kent Deputy Chief Constable Alan Pughsley said: “Criminal damage can seriously affect people's quality of life so it's very encouraging to see a significant reduction of more than 2,500 crimes. Our neighbourhood policing teams work extremely hard to ensure local communities are listened to and issues such as criminal damage are tackled quickly and effectively.”

However, small increases have been seen in other areas of the most recent crime statistics.

Burglary figures show a small increase of 2.3 per cent (286 more crimes), while robbery has increased by 6 per cent (53 crimes). Theft offences have gone up by 3.8 per cent (1,023 crimes). Drugs offences have gone up by 8.5 per cent, meaning 338 more crimes of this kind have been recorded, and sexual offences have also increased by 15.6 per cent - 205 more crimes.

ADCC Pughsley concluded: “We have seen an overall reduction in crime over the past four years and these latest crime statistics are encouraging, but also show us where there is room to continue our hard work and bring numbers of offences down even further and bring more criminals to justice.

“We will continue to tackle crime and disorder across Kent, keeping it one of the safest places in the UK.”