Canterbury Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In November 2024, Canterbury recorded a crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 2.6% below the UK average of 7.6. This translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 135 residents over the course of the month, a figure that contextualises the risk as relatively low compared to the national picture. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 35.1% of all incidents, followed by shoplifting (12.6%) and anti-social behaviour (11.1%). These patterns align with Canterbury’s character as a historic city with a mix of urban and suburban areas, where high foot traffic in retail zones and public spaces may contribute to shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. The seasonal context of November—marked by darker evenings, Bonfire Night, and Black Friday shopping—likely influences crime trends, with increased retail activity potentially driving thefts and public order issues. Violence and sexual offences, while slightly above the UK average for this category (2.6 per 1,000), remain a focal point for local authorities. The relatively low burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) contrasts with the UK average, suggesting that Canterbury’s urban layout and community policing efforts may deter property crimes. As the year draws to a close, these figures provide a snapshot of how local conditions interact with broader national trends.

November 2024 saw sharp increases in certain crime categories, with robbery cases surging by 1,000% (from 1 to 11 incidents) compared to October, a dramatic shift that warrants scrutiny. Bicycle theft also rose sharply, jumping 142.9% (from 7 to 17 cases), potentially linked to the Black Friday shopping period and increased cycling activity. Conversely, public order offences fell by 35.8% (from 67 to 43), possibly reflecting reduced outdoor activity during colder weather. The crime mix reveals a notable divergence from the UK average: shoplifting in Canterbury is 30% higher than the national rate (0.7 vs 0.9 per 1,000), a discrepancy that may be attributed to Canterbury’s retail presence, particularly around its historic High Street and tourist attractions. Anti-social behaviour, however, is 28% below the UK average (1.1 vs 0.8 per 1,000), suggesting that community engagement initiatives or local policing strategies may be effective in mitigating such incidents. Drug-related crimes also dipped by 28.4% (from 81 to 58), a decrease that could align with seasonal shifts in illicit activity. These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of Canterbury’s crime profile and the influence of both local context and national trends.

Canterbury’s November 2024 crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents marks an 11.2% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.4, reflecting a notable downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 40 crimes per day, a figure that underscores the ongoing presence of criminal activity but remains lower than the UK average when scaled to Canterbury’s population. Over the course of the month, the 1-in-135 resident ratio for reported crimes illustrates the relative safety of the area compared to the national context, though this statistic should be interpreted alongside specific category trends. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Canterbury’s crime profile is shaped by both its urban density and historical significance; for instance, the lower burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.3) may reflect the presence of heritage buildings with enhanced security measures or community vigilance. However, the sharp increase in robbery cases—now 0.1 per 1,000—highlights vulnerabilities in certain areas, particularly during high-traffic periods like Black Friday. These figures, when contextualised with Canterbury’s demographics and geography, provide a nuanced understanding of how crime rates fluctuate in response to local and national factors.