Kingston saw a rise in violence and sexual offences over the last year.
New data from data.police.uk show that violence and sexual crimes in Kingston are up compared other types of crime in the borough.
Meanwhile, crimes, such as bicycle theft, arson and possession of weapons, are down.
Between March 2024 and February 2025, over 3,000 cases of violence and sexual offences were committed, over double the number of shoplifting crimes, the next largest amount.
In that same period, figures for the wider London area were proportionately higher than Kingston, despite London figures dropping by 0.3% in the previous year of February 2024 to January 2025.
Kingston showed safer streets per 1,000 people, as London saw a rate of 28.3% violent and sexual offences per 1.000 people, compared to Kingston’s 19.4%, between March 2024 to February 2025.
London resident Alessia Del Malvo said that despite the London statistics, Kingston felt no safer to her.
Del Malvo said: “It’s a matter of vigilance and Kingston is no different at night.”
She added: “I’m more comfortable with central London, despite the dangers as I’ve done it longer, but Kingston is still unknown and that can be scary at times, especially when you do get rowdy people.”
Data by Crime Rate showed that in the year of September 2023 to September 2024, Kingston Town — the area from the Bentall Centre to Surbiton High School — had a higher rate of violent and sexual offences, shoplifting and other theft than other wards.
However, some residents said that they do not think of Kingston as being unsafe.
One Kingston resident, Jade Metcalf, said: “As a woman who worked night shifts I would walk alone in Kingston and feel safe.”
She added: “The only issue is the odd drunk, but you get them everywhere. Never had problems in Kingston but then I have lived in South London for a long time, so this still feels like the countryside to me.”
Local organisations have campaigned to create more awareness to combat violence and sexual crimes.
Last month, part of the Kingston Women’s Hub forum, a forum of survivors and part of the Voices of Hope charity, and the council’s Community Safety team gathered to present a new strategy to the People Committee, part of Kingston Council.
The strategy detailed plans to support survivors, children and young people and hold perpetrators to account.
Councillor Sabah Hamed, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “It is only by working together with people with lived experience of violence and abuse, as well as with partners and local communities that we can continue to make Kingston a safer place for all.”
