Postcode district · Chatham
Crime in ME5
How much crime is recorded in ME5, what kind, and how it compares with the rest of the country.
- Council
- Medway
- Region
- South East
- Population
- 68,475 (2024)
ME5Postcode district · Chatham
How safe is ME5
Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 36.4 offences per 1,000 people a year in ME5, above the 31.1 average across England and Wales. That puts it in band 7 of 10 against all neighbourhoods.
Higher-harm crime band
7/ 10
Lowest crimeHighest crime
Around the middle of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.
Higher-harm
36.4
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 31.1
All crime
84
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 67
What crime is recorded
Recorded offences per 1,000 people a year (counting both residents and people who work locally, or per 1,000 households for burglary).
ME5National
Violence and sexual offences29.723.6
Anti-social behaviour19.710.7
Shoplifting10.08.4
Burglary7.09.1
Criminal damage and arson6.44.7
Other theft5.64.5
Public order3.74.6
Drugs2.92.4
Vehicle crime2.83.5
Other crime2.31.5
Robbery1.71.4
Bicycle theft1.41.0
Possession of weapons1.20.9
Theft from the person1.22.1
Higher-harm crime over time
It has fallen 20% since 2022.
Higher-harm crimes per 1,000
0
20
40
60
2022202320242025
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, resolved to neighbourhoods. Rates cover September 2025 to August 2026, the latest twelve months published.