by Katie Lamborn

Dartford has the most crime in Kent, while Sevenoaks has the
least.

That is according to an online map which allows the public to
access crime information on every street in the
country.

It is available at the Crime Mappers website.

Though the average number of crimes in Dartford has plummeted by
16 per cent compared with last year, down from 768 to 645
incidents, the average number of crimes reported in past three
months is 7.1 per thousand people.

Sevenoaks had a lowly 3.6 crimes reported per thousand
people.

Crime in in the commuter town decreased on average by 14.3 per
cent from 486 reported cases to 416 since last year. However,
the average number of anti-social behaviour incidents in the area
has increased by 14.8 per cent from 267 to 307.

Medway has seen the biggest drop in crime in the whole of
Kent.

The average number of crimes reported in the area has dropped by
23.3 per cent from 1922 to 1474. Despite that, the borough's
vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour levels are some of the
highest in Kent.

Kent Police is in favour of the map and it believes it gives a
more accurate representation of crime statistics, especially when
compared with people's sometimes irrational fears.

Inspector Bill Wallis, of Kent Police, said: "The perception of
crime is not reality. Often people fear crime that isn't actually
there...if they can understand what the levels of crimes and
anti-social behaviour are in their area they'll actually feel more
confident and reassured that it isn't actually at the levels they
think it is."

The crime map follows the success of regional versions created
by the 43 forces across England and Wales. Kent first set up
its own interactive crime map in December.

Figures can be accessed on levels of burglary, robbery,
violence, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour and there is also
a facility that allows previous crime information to be compared to
see if things are getting better or worse.

Kent has a crime rate of 5.3 making it the second safest county
to live in the South East. Surrey has the lowest crime
rate of 5.2.

Fears have been expressed that the map could have wider-ranging
effects - including devastating house prices in the 'darker' areas
of the map.