Crime Rate in The Meads: Trends, Hotspots

Overview of Crime in The Meads

The total recorded crimes in The Meads, Swale, UK in May 2025 are around 36 as per the recent police data. This equates to a The Meads crime rate of 3.88 per 1,000 population.

It's important to note that this crime data is based on the Geographic Boundry data provided by the ONS around The Meads, encompassing approximately 9,268 residents.

Most occured crime Types

The most prevalent crimes in the area during May were:

  • Violence and sexual offences: (13) incidents (-59.38% decrease)
  • Anti-social behaviour: (5) incidents (-61.54% decrease)
  • Shoplifting: (5) incidents (400.00% increase)
The Meads Crime Hotspots

The surrounding areas of below locations have emerged as crime hotspots,

  • Sheppey Way with total crimes: 7
  • Spinel Close with total crimes: 6
  • Ledger Close with total crimes: 4

How safe is The Meads?

To understand the safety of The Meads, we need to analyze The Meads crime statistics in relation to regional averages. Lets examine the available data and provide a balanced assessment.

  • Relative to Swale:

    • In 2024, The Meads demonstrated a lower crime volume than the Swale average, with 547 crimes compared to 742.0. This suggests a relatively safer position within the region for the year. Additionally, The Meads recorded fewer crimes than 12 out of 23 other areas in the Swale.

    • In 2023, The Meads had fewer crimes than the Swale average, with 351 crimes compared to 695. This reflects a relatively lower crime rate for the area within the region that year. Additionally, The Meads recorded fewer crimes than 16 out of 23 other areas in the Swale.

  • Overall Assessment:

    • Compared to other areas in Swale, The Meads has a lower crime rate and is considered safer in 2024.

    • The trend in crime rates suggests Negative changes in overall safety.

The Meads Crime Statstics

In May 2025 the The Meads has recorded 36 crimes with crime rate of 3.88 ranking 18th out of 23 in the Swale, UK

In 2024, the total The Meads crimes were 547. The crime rate of The Meads in 2024 was 59.02 (year) or 4.92 (month) ranking it 13 dangerous area in the Swale.

In 2023, the total crimes in The Meads were around 351 crimes with yearly crime rate of 37.87 (year) or 3.16 (month) ranking 17 most dangerous area in the Swale.

AreaMay 202520242023
CrimesRank (The Meads)CrimesRank (The Meads)CrimesRank (The Meads)
Sheerness250 13,076 12,788 1
Roman160 21,972 22,198 2
Queenborough and Halfway90 51,003 4999 3
Sheppey East111 41,457 3888 5
Milton Regis118 3841 6910 4
Murston89 6866 5885 6
Abbey79 7795 8876 7
Sheppey Central57 10809 7600 10
Chalkwell54 11726 9845 8
Minster Cliffs66 8561 12439 13
Homewood60 9677 10668 9
Teynham and Lynsted47 12474 15558 11
Watling43 15563 11532 12
Borden and Grove Park46 13522 14417 15
Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch43 14460 16421 14
Kemsley36 17447 17391 16
Priory42 16388 18306 22
Woodstock33 19298 21340 18
Boughton and Courtenay29 21385 19334 19
Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow22 22266 22332 20
St Ann's31 20369 20326 21
West Downs10 23173 23149 23
East Downs8 24137 24134 24

The Meads Crime Map

Detailed Crime Data Analysis

Monthly Trends

In May 2025, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (13 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (5 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (32 incidents) were the most common in April 2025, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (13 incidents) also being high.

For March 2025 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Anti-social behaviour (8 incidents) and then Criminal damage and arson showed a substantial number of incidents (6 incidents).

February 2025 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 13 incidents, and Criminal damage and arson was another prevalent crime category with 4 incidents.

During January 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (20 reports) and Shoplifting incidents were also notably high (11 cases).

December 2024 crime data shows Shoplifting saw the largest number of reported crimes with 10 incidents, and Violence and sexual offences was another prevalent crime category with 8 incidents.

During November 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (8 reports) and Shoplifting incidents were also notably high (4 cases).

In October 2024, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (17 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (10 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (17 incidents) were the most common in September 2024, with There was a large number of incidents involving Shoplifting (6 incidents) also being high.

For August 2024 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (19 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (11 incidents).

July 2024 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 12 incidents, and Shoplifting was another prevalent crime category with 8 incidents.

During June 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (40 reports) and Shoplifting incidents were also notably high (32 cases).

In May 2024, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (18 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (9 incidents).

Crime TypeCountCrime RateChange

Crime by Type

A total of 51 Criminal damage and arson incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 3.92 incidents per month. December 2024 saw the highest number of Criminal damage and arson incidents with 7 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20253
April 20253
March 20256
February 20254
January 20251
December 20247
November 20244
October 20245
September 20242
August 20245
July 20245
June 20244
May 20242

A total of 27 Vehicle crime incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 2.08 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Vehicle crime incidents with 4 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
April 20252
March 20251
February 20253
January 20253
December 20241
November 20241
October 20243
September 20242
August 20241
July 20243
June 20244
May 20241

A total of 223 Violence and sexual offences incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 17.15 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Violence and sexual offences incidents with 40 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202513
April 202532
March 20256
February 202513
January 202520
December 20248
November 20248
October 202417
September 202417
August 202419
July 202412
June 202440
May 202418

A total of 82 Anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 6.31 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Anti-social behaviour incidents with 13 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20255
April 202513
March 20258
February 20253
January 20251
December 20243
November 20243
October 202410
September 20242
August 202411
July 20244
June 202410
May 20249

A total of 6 Possession of weapons incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 1.50 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Possession of weapons incidents with 3 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20251
March 20251
October 20243
July 20241

A total of 33 Drugs incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 3.00 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Drugs incidents with 6 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20251
April 20253
March 20253
February 20254
January 20253
December 20241
November 20242
September 20243
August 20243
July 20244
June 20246

A total of 28 Other theft incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 2.33 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Other theft incidents with 4 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
April 20252
March 20252
February 20252
January 20252
December 20241
November 20243
October 20244
August 20241
July 20242
June 20244
May 20243

A total of 108 Shoplifting incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 8.31 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Shoplifting incidents with 32 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20255
April 20251
March 20253
February 20254
January 202511
December 202410
November 20244
October 20245
September 20246
August 202410
July 20248
June 202432
May 20249

A total of 14 Other crime incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 2.33 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Other crime incidents with 4 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
April 20254
March 20251
January 20252
September 20243
July 20242

A total of 5 Robbery incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 1.67 incidents per month. May 2025 saw the highest number of Robbery incidents with 2 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
October 20241
June 20242

A total of 12 Burglary incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 1.71 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Burglary incidents with 4 reported cases.

MonthCount
April 20251
February 20251
October 20242
August 20241
July 20242
June 20244
May 20241

A total of 17 Public order incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 1.70 incidents per month. July 2024 saw the highest number of Public order incidents with 3 reported cases.

MonthCount
April 20252
March 20252
February 20251
January 20252
December 20241
November 20241
October 20241
September 20242
July 20243
June 20242

High Crime Locations The Meads in May 2025

A detailed breakdown of crime incidents by location within the The Meads postcode area is presented below.

1. Sheppey Way (Map)
Total7
Shoplifting4
Drugs1
Other theft1
Violence and sexual offences1
2. Spinel Close (Map)
Total6
Violence and sexual offences3
Criminal damage and arson2
Other theft1
3. Ledger Close (Map)
Total4
Violence and sexual offences3
Other crime1
4. Quartz Way (Map)
Total4
Robbery2
Anti-social behaviour1
Shoplifting1
5. Agate Court (Map)
Total2
Vehicle crime1
Violence and sexual offences1
6. Rook Lane (Map)
Total1
Criminal damage and arson1
7. Gibbons Road (Map)
Total1
Anti-social behaviour1
8. Sports/Recreation Area (Map)
Total1
Anti-social behaviour1
9. Cold Harbour Lane (Map)
Total1
Possession of weapons1
10. Porcelain Close (Map)
Total1
Vehicle crime1

  • Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Contains Office for National Statistics data licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.