8. Residents' feedback

Community safety survey results 2025

This is a snapshot of the results of the 2025 Community Safety Survey in Bexley, including the top 10 crime and ASB priorities for our residents, and the overall feelings of safety rating. It must be noted that only 506 respondents answered this survey, and therefore it is only a small representation of the community voice, and must be considered jointly with qualitative and anecdotal evidence.

The average safety score: 6.35.

Top 10 crime concerns
RankCrime concern
1Burglary
2Drug related issues
3Vehicle crime
4Theft
5Fly tipping
6Gang related activity
7Public disorder
8Hate crime
9Fraud and cybercrime
10Weapon enabled crime
Top 10 anti-social behaviour concerns
RankAnti-social behaviour concern
1Groups loitering
2Littering
3Drug paraphernalia
4Begging
5Intimidation and harassment
6Vehicle nuisance
7Dog fouling
8Firework misuse
9Illegal parking / abandoned vehicles
10Neighbour nuisance

What does the survey tell us?

Most respondents were British, middle-aged, non-disabled, female and from central wards. While it is important we use this survey to direct our priorities, we need to note that it does not alone adequately represent the whole-Bexley community voice, and we need to consider how we meet the needs of those who may not have fed into this survey.

Our residents felt more safe than they did unsafe, with a 6.35 average and the largest number of votes at a 70% safety score. However, we must not neglect the importance of the 16% of respondents who reported that they felt more unsafe than safe. It is those responses we need to hear, in order that we know what changes are needed so that everyone in Bexley feels safe residing here. Young people notably reported feeling less safe in 2025 than in previous years.

Burglary, Drug-related issues and Vehicle crime were the largest crime concerns for residents. Loitering, Littering and Drug Paraphernalia were the largest Anti-Social Behaviour concerns for residents. While these are not the highest recorded categories of crimes and ASB in Bexley, we need to recognise that they impact on our residents' feelings and therefore should be prioritised.