Crap Towns / Rochester / Deliberate fires

How many fires get started on purpose in Rochester?

There were 4.4 deliberate fires per 10,000 people a year in Rochester from April 2023 to March 2026, 23% lower than the typical town's 5.7. The most common were bins and rubbish set on fire, at 1.7. In 2025/26 it was 4.3, down from 4.8 in 2023/24.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
2023/24	4.8	5.2
2024/25	4.0	5.4
2025/26	4.3	6.4

**What was set alight**
Fire	Here	Typical town
Bins and rubbish set on fire	1.7	1.9
Other outdoor fires	1.4	1.5
Grass, woods and crops set on fire	1.3	1.7

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Fires per 10,000 people a year
Tilbury	11.9 km	34.0
Chatham	4.6 km	16.5
Gravesend	8.6 km	15.4
Northfleet	11.8 km	11.7
East Tilbury	11.2 km	9.7
Gillingham	7.2 km	7.3
Snodland	7.8 km	6.8
Larkfield	10.9 km	5.6
Rochester	–	4.4
Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley	12.3 km	4.1
Hoo St Werburgh	5.6 km	4.0
The typical town	–	5.7