Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
ME4 · Medway
853
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
ME12 · Kent
82
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Sittingbourne has less crime — 82 vs 853 incidents in April 2026.
Rochester recorded substantially more crime than Sittingbourne in April 2026 — 853 incidents compared to 82, a 10.4x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Rochester sees higher rates of Shoplifting (99), while Sittingbourne has more Criminal damage & arson (11). Rochester sits above the national average for recorded crime while Sittingbourne is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Sittingbourne recorded fewer crimes than Rochester — 82 vs 853 incidents. That is 90% fewer crimes. Sittingbourne is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Rochester saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Sittingbourne had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Sittingbourne recorded fewer total crimes (82 vs 853).