Crime in Royal Tunbridge Wells
Recorded crime in Royal Tunbridge Wells is 1.2 times the Tunbridge Wells average and about the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 22%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences (assaults, harassment, sexual offences). Police data to August 2026.
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells: about 30,128 residents in 24 neighbourhoods.
- Safety in the UK
- 4/10Above average crime
- Living
- 8.8/10Excellent
- 5-year change
- −22%fewer crimes
- vs the council
- 1.2×the Tunbridge Wells average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Crime over 5 years
Down 22% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Royal Tunbridge Wells, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.2× the Tunbridge Wells average (about the England and Wales average). 80 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences (assaults, harassment, sexual offences): 69% of the harm here
- Burglary: 10% of the harm here
- Other theft: 5% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 69% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 18 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
How often crimes lead to a charge in TN1
In TN1, the postcode district at the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, 16% of crimes reported between September 2024 and August 2025 led to someone being charged or summonsed (England and Wales: 9%).
- Charged or summonsed
- Caution or other action
- Suspect found, not prosecuted
- No suspect identified
- Still open
Show as a table
| Type | Crimes | Charged or summonsed | Caution or other action | Suspect found, not prosecuted | No suspect identified | Still open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences (assaults, harassment, sexual offences) | 503 | 11% | 6% | 60% | 19% | 5% |
| Shoplifting | 259 | 29% | 14% | 10% | 44% | 3% |
| Criminal damage and arson (vandalism) | 111 | 8% | 8% | 28% | 53% | 3% |
| Public order | 95 | 28% | 3% | 24% | 34% | 11% |
| Other theft | 92 | 7% | 1% | 20% | 67% | 5% |
Uses the latest outcome police have recorded so far. 5% of these crimes are still open, so the final figures may be a little higher.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.7 |
| Burglary | 3.2 |
| Violence and sexual offences (assaults, harassment, sexual offences) | 33.7 |
| Drugs | 2.8 |
| Possession of weapons (knives and other weapons) | 0.5 |
| Other crime | 1.9 |
| Other theft | 7.0 |
| Theft from the person (pickpocketing, bag snatching) | 1.0 |
| Vehicle crime (cars stolen and broken into) | 3.0 |
| Criminal damage and arson (vandalism) | 7.9 |
| Public order | 6.4 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.9 |
| Shoplifting | 10.6 |
Postcode districts in Royal Tunbridge Wells
Nearby towns
Council: Tunbridge Wells
Questions about crime in Royal Tunbridge Wells
- Is Royal Tunbridge Wells a safe place to live?
- Royal Tunbridge Wells scores 4 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.2 times the Tunbridge Wells average.
- Is crime going up or down in Royal Tunbridge Wells?
- Down 22% over 5 years, from 2,524 recorded crimes a year to 1,976.
- What is the most common crime in Royal Tunbridge Wells?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences (assaults, harassment, sexual offences), about 34 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Royal Tunbridge Wells compare with Tunbridge Wells?
- Crime severity in Royal Tunbridge Wells is 1.2 times the Tunbridge Wells average.
- How often does crime lead to a charge in Royal Tunbridge Wells?
- In TN1, the postcode district at the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, 16% of crimes reported between September 2024 and August 2025 led to someone being charged or summonsed (England and Wales: 9%). 36% were closed without a suspect being identified.