Kent Police
South East · Territorial force · 3,900 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,900
Staff
1,900
Area (sq miles)
1,443
Population served
1,880,000
About Kent Police
The Gateway to Europe force, covering Kent including the Channel ports and Tunnel. Unique policing challenges including cross-border crime, people smuggling, and county lines operations.
Kent Police operates within the South East region of England, primarily covering the historic county of Kent. As a territorial force, it manages a diverse range of urban and rural areas, facing unique challenges associated with its geographic position as the Gateway to Europe. The force is tasked with significant responsibilities related to cross-border crime, which includes issues like people smuggling and county lines operations. It serves areas with major transport infrastructures, including the Channel ports and the Eurotunnel, which present operational quirks and opportunities for diverse policing strategies. Notable specialist units include the Roads Policing Unit, the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, and Operations Unit that focuses on public safety at major events. In recent years, Kent Police has placed a strong emphasis on community engagement and is actively addressing priorities such as tackling drug-related crime and providing support for vulnerable individuals. The force is committed to collaboration with other services and agencies to enhance public safety and develop effective crime prevention strategies in response to evolving challenges.
Current priorities
- Tackling drug-related crime
- Enhancing public safety
- Supporting vulnerable individuals
- Addressing cross-border crime
Notable specialisms
Source: About Kent Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,900
Staff
1,900
Total headcount
5,800
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Kent Police is named in 3 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Investigation into man’s death at hospital following arrest by Kent Police
2025-09-25 · IOPC
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
Joint inspection of the investigation and prosecution of fatal road traffic incidents
2015-02-04 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 1,499 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 98.1% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 845 |
| Stolen goods | 177 |
| Offensive weapons | 156 |
| Article for use in theft | 139 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 99 |
| Game or poaching equipment | 33 |
| Evidence of wildlife offences | 19 |
| Firearms | 17 |
| Goods on which duty has not been paid etc. | 12 |
| Anything to threaten or harm anyone | 2 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 819 |
| Community resolution | 393 |
| Arrest | 276 |
| Summons / charged by post | 7 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 4 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
16,757 crimes recorded by Kent Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 5,492 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 4,312 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,404 |
| Shoplifting | 1,339 |
| Other theft | 1,240 |
| Vehicle crime | 702 |
| Public order | 598 |
| Drugs | 439 |
| Other crime | 406 |
| Burglary | 351 |
| Possession of weapons | 163 |
| Robbery | 150 |
| Bicycle theft | 101 |
| Theft from the person | 60 |
| Total | 16,757 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Kent Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Kent Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
South East Allowance
Up to £3,000 / year
Force-discretionary South East allowance, set by the chief constable up to the statutory maximum, to help offset higher living costs in the South East.
Recruitment
How to join Kent Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.