St Mary's & St James, Bexley: Safety
Safety
Crime in St Mary's & St James is significantly lower than both the UK and London averages, and it's been dropping consistently since 2024.
In 2024, the neighbourhood had 65.3 crimes per 1,000 residents — already well below London's average of 209.5. By 2025, that figure had fallen to 59.1 per 1,000, compared to the UK average of 88.6. This downward trend has carried on into 2026.
Most nearby neighbourhoods have notably higher crime rates. Bexleyheath, Sidcup, and St Paul's Cray all record significantly more crime than St Mary's & St James.
Vehicle crime and criminal damage have both dropped sharply since 2024. Anti-social behaviour has also decreased year on year, which is good news for residents.
Source: police-recorded crime for St Mary's & St James ward (Metropolitan Police Service, data.police.uk), Jan 2024–Aug 2026; residents from Census 2021. This summary may predate the latest data release; the table below has the current figures.
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Crime rate comparison
Crimes per 1,000 residents, Jan–Dec 2025. St Mary's & St James ward: Metropolitan Police Service data via data.police.uk; residents from Census 2021. Averages are for all wards in the area over the same months. Planna's safety index uses the latest 12 months instead, so it can differ.
2024
2025
Jan–Aug 2026
St Mary's & St James ward
Crimes/1,000 residents
59.2
Lower than
UK average (England, Wales & N. Ireland)
98.8
Lower than
London region average
130.2
Neighbouring wards
Lower than
Swanley White Oak
83.7
Lower than
Swanley St Mary's
129.1
Lower than
Bexleyheath
160.7
Higher than
Blendon & Penhill
45.7
Lower than
Sidcup
104.1
Lower than
Crayford
99.9
Higher than
Joyden's Wood
34.7
Lower than
Maypole & Leyton Cross
80.3
Lower than
St Paul's Cray
132.1
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Types of Crime
Share of police-recorded crimes in St Mary's & St James ward and the London region average, Jan–Dec 2025.
This ward
Regional average
- Violent offences26%24%
- Anti-social behaviour20%21%
- Criminal damage and arson13%5%
- Vehicle crime13%7%
- Public order6%5%
- Burglary6%4%
- Other theft5%9%
- Drugs3%5%
- Shoplifting2%8%
- Robbery2%3%
- Theft from the person2%8%
- Other crime1%1%
- Possession of weapons<1%<1%
- Bicycle theft<1%1%
