This shows the number of offences and direction of travel for the major crime types. The majority of offence types have seen decrease in 2024 with the exception of Arson & Criminal Damage, Miscellaneous Crimes against Society, Sexual offences, Theft and Drug offences which saw a percentage increase over the year. Like London overall, Bexley has seen an overall rise in offences in 2024, however a smaller increase compared to London overall (0.58% in Bexley compared to 2.33% across London). The breakdown of crime types in the pie chart shows the proportion of each crime type with ‘Violence against the Person’, ‘Theft’ and ‘Vehicle offences’ being the top 3 highest volume crime types in both 2023 and 2024.

Pie chart of Total Notifiable Offences - Breakdown by Major Category

This shows the number of Total Notifiable, Burglary, Domestic Abuse & Non-Domestic Abuse Violence with Injury offences for calendar years 2023 and 2024.

This shows the number of ‘domestic abuse flagged’ offences by major crime types. Domestic abuse flagged offences made up 16% of all Total Notifiable Offences in 2023 and 14% in 2024. The highest volume crime type for domestic abuse flagged offences was ‘Violence Against the Person’ (VATP) in both 2023 and 2024, making up over a third of all VATP offences in both years.

Please note: Domestic Abuse Offences for 2023 and 2024 cannot be compared. This is due to changes to recording of Domestic Abuse flags in the MPS new computer system CONNECT (implemented in February 2024). The ‘Domestic abuse flagged’ crime offence data is sourced from a different Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) dataset to the Crime offence data presented throughout the rest of the report. Therefore the number of Domestic Abuse flagged offences may not match the number of Domestic Abuse offences shown on the ‘Domestic Abuse Breakdown’ section due to the data extract being taken at a different point in time.

This shows the top 10 offences in each Bexley ward and what percentage of crimes those offences represent. Bexleyheath, Erith and Belvedere are the top three wards for offence figures, and this further enforces the decision to have Police led multi-agency Problem Solving Processes (PSPs) in place to help tackle the crime issues collaboratively. Violence Against the Person, Theft and Vehicle Offences regularly feature among the top three crime types in the majority of Bexley wards.

This shows the offences in each Bexley ward and what percentage of crimes those offences represent. Belvedere, Slade Green & Northend, and Erith are the top three wards for DA offence figures. Violence Against the Person, Arson & Criminal Damage, Public Order Offences and Sexual offences are the top crime types (with a DA flag) in the majority of Bexley wards. Domestic Abuse is more prevalent in the North of the Borough.

TNOs are all the recorded offences added together. Like London overall, Bexley has seen a rise in TNOs in 2024 of 0.58%, from 16,535 to 16,631 offences per year. This is a smaller percentage increase compared to London overall (2.33%). Bexley ranks the 6th safest borough in London for 2024, with a rate of 65.6 TNOs per 1,000 population.

Bexley saw an increase of 10.81%, from 1,535 offences in 2023 to 1,701 offences in 2024 and ranks us 25th in London for offences per 1,000 population. Whilst Bexley saw an increase, there was a small decrease of 0.27% for London overall. The minor category “Criminal Damage” makes up the largest proportion of offences; 94.3% in 2024 compared to 96.0% in 2023. The low numbers of Arson have increased from 61 in 2023 to 97 in 2024. It should be noted that many boroughs’ offence rates are at a similar level.

A decrease in Burglary Offences in Bexley of 10.36%, from 898 in 2023 to 805 in 2024. This is a larger percentage decrease compared to London overall (3.98%). Bexley saw a decrease of 15.42% for Residential Burglary and an increase of 3.29% for Business & Community Burglary. Bexley had the lowest Burglary rate in London (per 1,000 population) in 2023 (rate of 3.56) and 2024 (rate of 3.18).

Bexley saw a decrease in Drug Offences of 1.26%, from 741 offences in 2023 to 705 offences in 2024 and saw us move from 8th place in 2023 to 6th place in 2024, compared to other London Boroughs. Whilst Bexley saw a decrease, there was an increase of 2.23% for London overall. The minor category “Possession of Drugs” makes up a large proportion of Drug Offences; 63.40% in 2024 compared to 73.39% in 2023. The lower numbers of Drug Trafficking (or possession with intent to supply) have increased from 190 in 2023 to 258 in 2024. Substance misuse is a crosscutting theme across the BCSP priorities and is known to be a driver for many offences especially serious violence. A 10-year Drug Strategy was published by the Home Office in 2021, and a local Combating Drug Partnership has been set up focusing on the supply, demand and treatment elements of the drugs market and the wider implementation of the strategy.

* The volume of “possession” offences recorded is heavily influenced by police activities and priorities (e.g “Stop and Search”). In such cases, recorded crime figures may indicate police activity in this area rather than levels of criminality.

A decrease in Posession of Weapons Offences in Bexley of 21.50%, from 107 in 2023 to 84 in 2024. This is a slightly smaller percentage decrease compared to London overall (23.71%). Bexley ranked 5th place in both 2023 and 2024 compared to other London Boroughs. It should be noted that variation between many boroughs’ offence rates is small and at a similar level.

* The volume of “possession” offences recorded is heavily influenced by police activities and priorities (e.g “Stop and Search”). In such cases, recorded crime figures may indicate police activity in this area rather than levels of criminality.

A reduction in Public Order Offences in Bexley of 9.03%, from 1,262 in 2023 to 1,148 in 2024. This is a larger percentage decrease compared to London overall (4.18%). The minor category “Public Fear Alarm or Distress” makes up a large proportion of Public Order Offences; 66.20% in 2024 compared to 71.39% in 2023. Bexley ranks in 6th place compared to other London Boroughs in 2024, up from 8th place in 2023.

Bexley saw a decrease in Robbery Offences of 7.18%, from 348 in 2023 to 323 in 2024. This overall decrease in Robbery Offences saw us move from 3rd place in 2023 to 2nd place in 2024 compared to other London Boroughs. Whilst Bexley saw a reduction, there was an increase of 4.27% for London overall. We have seen a reduction in Robbery of Personal Property from 296 offences in 2023 to 204 offences in 2024 and an increase in Robbery of Business Property from 52 offences in 2023 to 119 offences in 2024.

An increase in Sexual Offences in Bexley of 5.51%, from 490 in 2023 to 517 in 2024. This is a smaller increase compared to an increase of 9.75% for London overall. Bexley saw a rise of 13.73% for Other Sexual Offences (from 306 in 2023 to 348 in 2024) and a reduction of 8.15% in Rape Offences (from 184 in 2023 to 169 in 2024). Bexley has moved from 6th in 2023 (rate of 1.94) to 8th in 2024 (rate of 2.04) compared to other London Boroughs.

An increase in Theft Offences in Bexley of 19.6%, from 2,985 in 2023 to 3,570 in 2024. This is a larger percentage increase compared to London overall (14.02%). Despite this increase, Bexley had the second lowest Theft Offence rate in London (per 1000 population) in 2024 (rate of 14.09) and the lowest in 2023 (rate of 11.84). Bexley saw a rise of 60.31% for Shoplifting (from 1,164 in 2023 to 1,866 in 2024), a 56.07% increase for Theft from the Person (from 173 in 2023 to 270 in 2024) and an increase of 23.44% for Bicycle Theft (from 64 in 2023 to 79 in 2024). There was a decrease of 14.46% in other Theft (from 1,584 in 2023 to 1,355 in 2024). Despite this increase, we are aware there remains an underreporting of Shoplifting and we are working with the Town Centres to encourage reporting.

An increase in Vehicle Offences in Bexley of 12.51%, from 2,102 in 2023 to 2,365 in 2024. Whilst Bexley saw an increase, there was a decrease of 4.32% for London overall. The minor categories ‘Theft or Unauthorised Taking of a Motor Vehicle’ and ‘Theft from a Motor Vehicle’ make up the largest proportion of Vehicle Offences. Bexley saw an increase of 28.60% for ‘Theft or unauthorised taking of a Motor Vehicle’ (from 881 in 2023 to 1133 in 2024) and a decrease of 7.89% for ‘Theft from a Motor Vehicle’ (from 926 in 2023 to 853 in 2024).

This overall increase in Vehicle Offences saw us move from 4th place in 2023 to 9th place in 2024 compared to other London Boroughs. The Ward with the largest proportion of Vehicle offences is West Heath with 25.99% of total crime offences. Vehicle crime is a high volume offence in Bexley, however the BCSP are of the opinion that it should be tackled by way of crime reduction similar to that of Burglary. This raises awareness of what the public can do to help minimise theft of, and from vehicles. Shared social media communications message and information shared at events sits alongside picking up on linked series of thefts swiftly to improve chances of detection. Due to presenting lower threat, risk and harm, vehicle crime will not be a named priority for the BCSP in 2025/26. This will form part of the Community Reassuranc priority.

A decrease in Violence Against the Person Offences in Bexley of 11.69%, from 5,589 in 2023 to 5,174 in 2024. This is a larger percentage decrease compared to London overall (4.36%). The minor category ‘Violence without Injury’ makes up the largest proportion of VAtP Offences; 71.30% in 2024 compared to 68.73% in 2023. The number of ‘Violence with Injury’ Offences decreased by 18.87% (from 1828 in 2023 and 1483 in 2024) and we have seen a reduction in Homicides from 4 in 2023 to 2 in 2024. Bexley has moved up three places from 10th place in 2023 (rate of 23.25) to 7th place in 2024 (rate of 20.41) compared to other London Boroughs.

We have employed a Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) Coordinator through the Mayor’s Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC) funding to promote reporting of incidents, delivery of professionals training, and support VAWG victims. Violent Crime is a named BCSP priority. Other external funding from MOPAC enables providers and projects to be commissioned to assist in tackling violent crime across the borough, supporting individuals, families and the wider community. The Serious Violence Duty placed on all CSPs also includes an action plan to address this crime type.

Domestic Abuse Offences for 2023 and 2024 cannot be compared. This is due to changes to recording of Domestic Abuse flags in the MPS new computer system CONNECT (implemented in February 2024).

In 2024, there was a total of 2,322 Domestic Abuse Offences in Bexley, ranking us 17th place with a rate of 91.62 compared to other London Boroughs. In 2023, there was a total of 2,763 Domestic Abuse Offences in Bexley, ranking us 19th place with a rate of 109.64 compared to other London Boroughs. Bexley’s position compared to other London Boroughs is unusually high when you consider Bexley tends to sit in the bottom five of the London Boroughs for TNOs. Domestic Abuse is a named BCSP priority in reflection of its status as an outlier to the boroughs safety ranking for TNOs overall.

** These categories are created by using “flags” and formatting the data in different ways. Therefore, these Incidents and Offences will be counted again in the other crime categories listed above.

Over the past 5 years, the number of high risk Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) cases discussed and repeat cases have also shown a year on year increase from a repeat victim percentage of 10% in 2017 (27 repeats cases out of a total 275 MARAC cases) to 34.29% in 2024 (192 repeats cases out of a total 560 MARAC cases). This significant rise in MARAC cases has mainly been due to a practitioner training programme which has enabled more cases to be identified and relevant pathways put in place alongside implementation of the coordinated community response in Bexley.

A decrease in Anti-Social Behaviour calls to the Police in Bexley of 14.87%, from 4,675 in 2023 to 3,980 in 2024. A larger percentage decrease compared to London overall (14.87%). Bexley had the 2nd lowest ASB rate in London (per 1000 population) in 2024 (rate of 15.70) and the lowest in 2023 (rate of 18.55). ASB perpetrators can be referred through to, and managed by, the multi-agency ASB Prevention Panel (ASBPP) and appropriate tools and powers are used to desist their behaviour.

ASB is also a named BCSP priority in reflection of the volume of this crime type and impact of ASB on the community, and in order to ensure the BCSP is addressing risks at the earliest opportunity. It has been recognised that there are numberous mechanisms to report ASB and this data does not include all of those statistics. The ASB Working Group will be progressing a more emcompassing data profile.

A decrease in Non-Domestic Abuse Violence with Injury Offences in Bexley of 18.23%, from 1,185 in 2023 to 969 in 2024. A larger percentage decrease compared to London overall (15.11%). Bexley remains in 8th place in 2024 with a rate of 3.83, compared to 4.70 in 2023. The largest proportion of offences for the most recent year were seen in the Bexleyheath ward with 148 offences.

** These categories are created by using “flags” and formatting the data in different ways. Therefore, these Incidents and Offences will be counted again in the other crime categories listed above.

Hate Crime Offences for 2023 and 2024 cannot be compared. This is due to changes to recording of Hate Crime flags in the MPS new computer system CONNECT (implemented in February 2024).

Please note: One hate crime offence may be flagged with more than one hate crime category. Therefore the total of the sub-categories cannot be summed and will not equal the total number of hate crimes.

** These categories are created by using “flags” and formatting the data in different ways. Therefore, these Incidents and Offences will be counted again in the other crime categories listed above.

The London Borough of Bexley is one of the extended areas for the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Devolved Decision Pilot for Children. This Home Office funding has enabled a NRM Coordinator to sit within the Community Safety Team and manage a local panel that makes the decisions on prospective child victims of Modern Slavery. Bexley has also employed a Modern Slavery Coordinator and established a partnership Action Plan to raise awareness and increase reporting of the various forms of modern slavery. No published data around Modern Slavery Offences has been included within the JSA. However, the Home Office report annual National Referral Mechanism (NRM) statistics (referrals for those considered victims), which has shown and increase from 39 Local Aurthority NRM referrals in 2023, to 65 in 2024.

A reduction in Weapon-Enabled Crime Offences in Bexley of 1.17% from 256 in 2023 to 253 in 2024. Whilst Bexley saw a decrease, there was a 10.12% increase for London overall. The majority of Weapon-Enabled Crime Offences in Bexley during 2023 and 2024 were Knife Crime Offences with 89.06% and 86.17% respectively. Bexley has seen a decrease across all Weapon-Enabled Crime categories with the exception of Gun Crime which saw an increase from 28 crimes in 2023 to 35 crimes in 2024. Bexley has moved up three places from 6th place (rate of 1.02) in 2023 to 3rd place (rate of 1.00) in 2024, compared to other London Boroughs. One of the three minimum standards of the Violence & Vulnerability Reduction Action Plan (VVRAP) is for the BCSP Executive Group Meeting agendas to include Knife, Gun and Serious Violence Performance, community tension monitoring and stop and search as standing items. Therefore these figures are presented quarterly at the BCSP Executive by the BCU Superintendent. One trend seen in 2023 was the increased proportion of knife injury victims being under 25-years-old.

Please note: Knife Crime with Injury and Knife Crime with Injury (Personal Robbery) are sub-categories of Knife Crime. Gun Crime Personal Robbery and Gun Crime Lethal Barrelled Discharged are sub-categories of Gun Crime. Victim categories are a count of victims ONLY and not included in the offence figures.

** These categories are created by using “flags” and formatting the data in different ways. Therefore, these Incidents and Offences will be counted again in the other crime categories listed above.

There was a total of 479 respondents to the 2024 Bexley Community Safety Survey compared to 708 in 2023. In 2024, the average safety score was 6.05 out of 10 (10 being the most safe) compared to 6.18 in 2023. In the 2024 survey, the number one crime priority for respondents was Vehicle Crime (17.4%), followed by Burglary (16.7%), and Drug-related issues (14.2%). In the 2023 survey, the number one crime priority for respondents was Burglary (17.4%) followed by Drug-related issues (16.2%) and Vehicle Crime (11.4%). The number one Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) priority in 2023 and 2024 was ASB from Groups Loitering with 19.9% and 24.0% respectively, followed by Drug Paraphernalia (17.2%) and Dog Fouling (11.2%) in 2023, and Littering (12.8%) and Drug Paraphernalia (11.8%) in 2024. These concerns closely mirror our findings from the data in this JSA, with the exception of Violence Against the Person Offences, and help contribute to the BCSP priority decision-making process.