Kensington and ChelseaCouncil area
Crime in Kensington and Chelsea
Recorded crime in Kensington and Chelsea is 1.7 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 4%. The biggest share of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
144,518 residents in 101 neighbourhoods. 2% live in busy town or city centres.
- Safety
- 1/10High crime
- Living
- 9.7/10Excellent
- 5-year change
- −4%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 4% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Kensington and Chelsea, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.7× the England and Wales average. 145 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 36% of the harm here
- Burglary: 19% of the harm here
- Robbery: 17% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 39 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
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 | 4.5 |
| Burglary | 10.9 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 32.1 |
| Drugs | 7.6 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.8 |
| Other crime | 1.2 |
| Other theft | 24.9 |
| Theft from the person | 12.2 |
| Vehicle crime | 18.8 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 7.1 |
| Public order | 8.9 |
| Bicycle theft | 3.9 |
| Shoplifting | 12.5 |
Postcode districts in Kensington and Chelsea
Questions about crime in Kensington and Chelsea
- Is Kensington and Chelsea a safe place to live?
- Kensington and Chelsea scores 1 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Kensington and Chelsea?
- Down 4% over 5 years, from 20,873 recorded crimes a year to 20,016.
- What is the most common crime in Kensington and Chelsea?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 32 per 1,000 residents a year.