Herne Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Herne

Herne, a built-up area within Canterbury, boasts a notably low overall crime rate of 54.0 per 1,000 residents per year. This figure is significantly below the national average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating a very safe environment. The area's safety score is an impressive 86 out of 100, well above the UK average of 78. The crime trend in Herne has remained stable, showing a marginal decrease of 0.5% year-over-year. This introduction highlights Herne's strong safety profile, providing context for a more detailed analysis of its specific crime patterns.

Crime Type Analysis in Herne

In Herne, Violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime type, accounting for a substantial 48.5% of all incidents, or 26.1 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common, representing 13.6% of crimes at a rate of 7.3 per 1,000. Criminal damage and arson follows, making up 10.2% of the total with 5.5 incidents per 1,000 residents.

Property-related crime, encompassing burglary, theft from person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, other theft, and robbery, collectively stands at a low 14.1 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly below the UK average property crime rate of 33.2 per 1,000. While property crime is low, residents should still be mindful of securing their homes, especially given the notable proportion of criminal damage and arson.

Crime Trends in Herne

Herne has experienced a stable crime trend over the last year, with a marginal 0.5% decrease in overall crime compared to the previous 12-month period. Reviewing the monthly trend data shows relatively consistent crime rates. The rate per 1,000 residents was 4.4 in October 2024, dipping to 3.1 in January 2025. It then saw a slight increase, peaking at 5.5 in June 2025, before settling at 5.2 in September 2025. This stable year-over-year change, combined with minor monthly fluctuations, indicates a consistently low crime environment for residents.

Understanding Time-Based Crime Patterns in Herne

Crime in Herne exhibits distinct patterns throughout the day. During the Morning (6am-12pm), theft is the most significant concern (46%), with notable vehicle crime (11%) and some burglary (7%), reflecting early commercial activity. The Afternoon (12pm-6pm) sees theft remain high (50%) and a higher proportion of burglary (13%), aligning with peak shopping hours and unattended homes. In the Evening (6pm-12am), there's a shift towards 'other' crimes (57%), which can include anti-social behaviour, with theft (20%) and burglary (11%) still present. Finally, Night (12am-6am) is characterised by elevated vehicle crime (31%), 'other' crimes (44%), and higher burglary (15%), typically targeting properties under the cover of darkness.

Crime Comparison with Nearby Built-Up Areas

Comparing Herne's crime rate of 54.0 per 1,000 residents with its immediate neighbouring built-up areas provides valuable local context. Herne Bay, a larger coastal town, generally has a higher crime rate. Hersden, Broad Oak (Canterbury), and Sturry are more comparable in size and character, and Herne's crime rate is often lower than or similar to these areas, reflecting its generally peaceful residential nature. This comparison reinforces Herne's position as one of the safer built-up areas within the Canterbury district, offering residents a strong sense of local safety.

Protecting Your Property in Herne

Despite Herne's commendably low property crime rate of 14.1 per 1,000 residents, remaining vigilant about home security is always a wise decision. Conventional security systems often only record a crime, offering little in the way of actual prevention.

For truly effective protection, consider advanced, AI-powered home security systems like scOS. These systems proactively deter crime by detecting potential threats at your property's boundary, before any intrusion can occur. Unlike reactive solutions, scOS utilises multi-camera intelligence to provide comprehensive, intelligent surveillance, learning your property's routines to minimise false alerts. The visible presence of such professional-grade deterrence, combined with features like autonomous response that can engage intruders with lights and speakers, can make a potential criminal decide to abandon their intentions within seconds. Investing in proactive security ensures peace of mind, even in a generally safe area like Herne.