What is the crime rate in Rochester? 85 crimes per 1,000 residents
Rochester had 2,599 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 85 per 1,000 residents and Very High for England and Wales. Crime fell 11.6% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 2,599
- Compared with England and Wales
- Very High
- On the previous 12 months
- −11.6%
Police-recorded crime in the 12 months to August 2026, per 1,000 residents (Census 2021). Anti-social behaviour is not included. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk. How we calculate this
All house prices in RochesterWhat are the most common crimes in Rochester?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in Rochester, with 1,232 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (40 per 1,000 residents). The England and Wales rate is 35 per 1,000. 4 of 13 crime types are more than 10% above the England and Wales rate.
| Crime type | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offencesAbove England and Wales | 40 per 1,000 |
| Shoplifting | 8.6 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonAbove England and Wales | 8.4 per 1,000 |
| Other theft | 6.5 per 1,000 |
| Public orderBelow England and Wales | 4.4 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crimeBelow England and Wales | 4.4 per 1,000 |
| DrugsAbove England and Wales | 3.8 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeAbove England and Wales | 3.4 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 2.6 per 1,000 |
| RobberyBelow England and Wales | 1.0 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weaponsBelow England and Wales | 0.8 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftBelow England and Wales | 0.7 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.4 per 1,000 |
Tags mark crime types more than 10% above or below the England and Wales rate for the same type.
Is crime going up or down in Rochester?
Crime fell 11.6% on the previous 12 months. 2,599 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 2,939 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
How does crime in Rochester compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in Rochester compared with the 6 nearest other areas in Medway.
Rochester vs Strood
- Rochester
- 85 per 1,000
- Strood
- 84 per 1,000
Open comparison
Rochester vs Cuxton
- Rochester
- 85 per 1,000
- Cuxton
- 27 per 1,000
Open comparison
Rochester vs Chatham
- Rochester
- 85 per 1,000
- Chatham
- 106 per 1,000
Open comparison
Rochester vs Frindsbury
- Rochester
- 85 per 1,000
- Frindsbury
- 60 per 1,000
Open comparison
Rochester vs Halling
- Rochester
- 85 per 1,000
- Halling
- 39 per 1,000
Open comparison
Rochester vs Gillingham
- Rochester
- 85 per 1,000
- Gillingham
- 84 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is Rochester a safe place to live?
Rochester had 85 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Very High among areas in England and Wales. Crime fell 11.6% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences. These are crimes reported to the police, not a safety rating. City-centre and retail areas have high rates because crimes against visitors and shops are counted, but only residents are in the population.
Crime rate is Very High, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
Very High means the highest fifth of areas in England and Wales by crime rate. The bands split every area we cover into fifths by crime rate, from Very Low to Very High.
How much anti-social behaviour is there in Rochester?
Police recorded 610 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Rochester in the 12 months to August 2026, or 20 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is counted separately and is not included in the crime figures.
What else do people ask about Rochester?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in Rochester.
- What is the average house price in Rochester?
- When did average house prices in Rochester reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in Rochester?
- What type of properties are sold in Rochester?
- What price range do most homes sell for in Rochester?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of Rochester?
- How many parks and green spaces are in Rochester?
- How do Rochester house prices compare with another area?
Where does this data come from?
Price information is from HM Land Registry, location boundaries are from OpenStreetMap, and households and population are from Nomis Census 2021 postcode estimates (21 March 2021). Parks and green space are from OS Open Greenspace. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Crime is from police.uk street-level data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk.
Last updated 31 October 2026 at 18:24 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The Rochester dataset covers 1,381 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.