Dover Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Dover's crime profile in July 2023 reveals a striking dominance of violent and disorderly offences over property crimes, a pattern that contrasts with many UK areas. With a crime rate of 10.2 per 1,000 residents—22.9% above the UK average—the local authority district recorded 473 violent crimes, including sexual offences, which accounted for 38.7% of all reported incidents. This is 44% higher than the UK average for this category, suggesting a concentrated challenge in addressing personal safety. Anti-social behaviour, at 13.5% of total crimes, and criminal damage (10.4%) followed closely, both significantly outpacing national benchmarks. The seasonal context of July—peak summer, school holidays, and the height of tourism—likely amplifies these trends. Coastal towns like Dover often see spikes in public order offences during festivals and events, while the presence of a major port may contribute to higher levels of violence and disorder. Despite this, property crime remains relatively low, with shoplifting (8.8%) and burglary (3.6%) far below the UK average. This suggests that while the area's infrastructure and transient populations may drive certain crime types, its spatial characteristics may offer some natural deterrence to others. The balance of crime types thus illustrates a community grappling with interpersonal tensions and public disorder during the summer months, rather than a focus on theft or property damage.

July 2023 saw dramatic month-on-month changes in Dover's crime profile. Bicycle theft surged by 450%, jumping from 2 to 11 incidents, a figure that could reflect increased outdoor activity during summer festivals or unsecured bike storage in tourist areas. Similarly, robbery and drug-related crimes each rose by 350%, with the latter category—drugs—jumping from 8 to 36 reports. This sharp increase in drug offences may indicate heightened illicit activity during the summer months, linked to increased foot traffic or unregulated events. Conversely, anti-social behaviour dropped by 10.3% compared to June, from 184 to 165 incidents, due to targeted policing efforts or the dispersal of transient populations. Violence and sexual offences remained 44% above the UK average, with a rate of 4.0 per 1,000 residents, while criminal damage and arson were 72% above the national benchmark. These figures highlight a persistent challenge in managing public safety during peak tourist periods. For residents, the 450% increase in bicycle theft underscores the need for secure storage solutions, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic or temporary accommodations.

Dover's crime rate in July 2023 rose 17.2% from the previous month, climbing to 10.2 per 1,000 residents from 8.7 per 1,000 in June. This increase places the local authority district significantly above the UK average, with a rate that is 22.9% higher than the national figure of 8.3. On a daily basis, Dover experienced approximately 39 crimes per day in July, a figure that translates to a localised monthly exposure of one reported crime for every 98 residents. Given Dover's population of 119,768, this means that over the course of the month, each resident had a 1.02% chance of being directly affected by a crime, a rate that is higher than the UK average. When compared to other areas, Dover's elevated rates of violence and sexual offences, as well as criminal damage, suggest a unique challenge in maintaining public order during the summer months. While the UK average for anti-social behaviour is 1.4 per 1,000, Dover's rate of 1.4 per 1,000 aligns closely, indicating that local efforts to manage disorder may be comparable to national standards. However, the sharp divergence in categories like drugs and bicycle theft highlights the need for targeted interventions that address the specific dynamics of a coastal town during peak tourism periods.