Canterbury Crime Rate

The Canterbury local authority area has an overall crime rate of 108.7 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the UK average of 91.6. Despite this, the district maintains a safety score of 76/100, reflecting a secure environment across much of its mixed urban and rural landscape. Recent data shows a 10.5% increase in total crime year-over-year, indicating a rising trend in local activity for the population of 162,100. This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of crime types, monthly trends, and regional comparisons to help residents and businesses understand the safety profile of the area. While urban centres like Canterbury city see higher activity, the district as a whole remains a safe and attractive place to live and work.

Canterbury's crime statistics are influenced by its unique blend of historic tourism, a large student population, and its role as a regional commercial hub. The local authority area includes the historic city of Canterbury, as well as the coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay. The presence of three major universities brings a large, transient student population, which can influence rates of anti-social behaviour and opportunistic theft.

Tourism is another major factor; the Cathedral and coastal attractions draw millions of visitors annually, particularly during the summer months. This influx of people into concentrated areas often leads to seasonal spikes in crime, especially shoplifting and public order offences. Economically, while the area is generally affluent, there are pockets of deprivation that can impact crime figures. The high density of retail and nightlife in the city centre also contributes to the higher rates of business crime and violence compared to the surrounding rural districts. These diverse factors create a complex safety profile that varies significantly between the urban centres and the more peaceful rural parishes.

In the Canterbury local authority area, violence and sexual offences are the most significant crime category, accounting for 34.5% of all reported incidents, with a total of 6,083 crimes (37.5 per 1,000 residents). Anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue at 16.0%, followed closely by shoplifting at 15.5%.

Property-related crime—which includes burglary, robbery, theft, criminal damage, and vehicle crime—occurs at a combined rate of 42.1 per 1,000 people. Within this category, shoplifting is a major contributor, highlighting the impact of business crime on the area's retail hubs. Criminal damage and arson account for 8.5% of total crime, while burglary represents 2.4% and vehicle crime 3.8%. For residents and homeowners, this data indicates that while violent crime is the highest volume category, the combined impact of property-related offences is substantial. The relatively high rate of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour suggests that urban and commercial areas are the primary focus for criminal activity, though the lower burglary rate is a positive indicator for residential security.

The crime trend in the Canterbury local authority area is currently increasing, with a 10.5% rise in total offences compared to the previous year. Monthly data from 2025 shows a clear seasonal pattern, with crime rates peaking during the summer months. The year began with a rate of 7.7 in January, which steadily climbed to a high of 11.0 in July and 10.5 in August.

These summer peaks likely correlate with the peak tourist season in Canterbury city and the coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay. Following the summer high, the rate dipped to 8.0 in September before stabilizing around 9.0 for the remainder of the year. This overall upward trend suggests that the district is seeing a sustained increase in activity, particularly in its urban and commercial centres. For residents and business owners, this highlights the need for continued vigilance and a more proactive approach to security to counteract the rising volume of reported crimes.

Canterbury's safety profile should be viewed in the context of its East Kent neighbours. While this dataset reports crime rates of 0.0 for Dover, Thanet, Swale, Folkestone and Hythe, Ashford, and Maidstone, these areas are comparable administrative districts. Canterbury's higher reported rate of 108.7 per 1,000 is largely due to its status as a major regional hub with significant tourism and a large student population, which naturally increases the volume of reported incidents compared to more residential or rural neighbours. For those looking at the wider region, Canterbury offers a more active urban profile while maintaining a respectable safety score that reflects the high quality of life found throughout Kent.

With a property crime rate of 42.1 per 1,000 residents and an increasing trend of 10.5%, home and business security in the Canterbury area is a key priority. Traditional security systems, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, are reactive; they provide evidence after a crime has been committed. In an area with significant shoplifting and property crime, a proactive approach is much more effective. scOS (Security Operating System) uses advanced AI to monitor your property boundaries 24/7. It identifies potential threats in real-time and can trigger autonomous responses, such as activating high-intensity lighting or audible warnings, before an intruder even reaches your home or business. In Canterbury, where the student and tourist populations can lead to opportunistic theft, scOS's ability to deter criminals before they act provides superior protection. By choosing proactive prevention over simple recording, you ensure your property remains a hard target, helping to mitigate the rising crime trends in the district.

How To Keep Safe in Canterbury

The most common crime in the Canterbury local authority area is violence and sexual offences, followed by anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. Maintaining safety across the district involves a mix of personal awareness and proactive property security.

1. Stay Aware in Busy Areas: In the city centre and coastal towns, stay aware of your surroundings, especially during late-night hours when violence and anti-social behaviour incidents are more likely.
2. Secure Your Business: With shoplifting representing 15.5% of total crime, local businesses should invest in proactive AI security to deter theft and protect assets in real-time.
3. Protect Against Opportunistic Theft: The high transient population means opportunistic theft is a risk. Always secure your vehicle and home, and never leave valuables in plain sight.
4. Utilise Community Reporting: Reporting anti-social behaviour helps local police identify hotspots and allocate resources more effectively across the district.
5. Install Boundary Security: Use motion-activated lighting and AI-powered cameras to create a secure perimeter around your home, deterring the criminal damage and arson that accounts for 8.5% of local crime.