Dover Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Dover's crime rate in June 2023 stood at 8.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 2.4% above the UK average of 8.5 per 1,000. As a coastal town with a significant tourism industry, this rate reflects a mix of seasonal dynamics and local factors. Violence and sexual offences constituted 45% of all crimes reported, far exceeding the UK average for this category (2.9 per 1,000 vs 3.9 per 1,000 in Dover). This concentration of violent crime may be partly explained by increased foot traffic in the town centre during the early summer months, when tourism begins to pick up. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, accounting for 17.6% of reported crimes, with a rate of 1.5 per 1,000—just 1% above the UK average. The seasonal context of June, with longer daylight hours and the start of the tourist season, likely contributes to these patterns. While property crimes remained relatively low at 263 incidents, the breakdown shows a marked imbalance between violent and property crime, with the former dominating the overall picture. This skew is consistent with Dover's character as a town with a strong retail and hospitality sector, which may heighten exposure to interpersonal conflicts and public order issues during peak tourist periods.

June 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns compared to May. Anti-social behaviour increased by 20.3%, rising from 153 to 184 incidents, reflecting heightened activity in public spaces during the summer months. Violence and sexual offences, already significantly above the UK average (34% higher), remained a dominant concern, with 469 reports—nearly half of all crimes recorded. This category's elevated rate may be linked to the town's proximity to major transport hubs and the influx of visitors during the early tourist season. Conversely, robbery incidents dropped by 66.7%, from six to two, due to increased police presence or changes in public behaviour during warmer weather. Drug-related crimes also fell by 42.9%, from 14 to eight, suggesting a seasonal dip in illicit activity. Other crime, including unclassified incidents, rose by 23.3% (30 to 37), while possession of weapons increased by 33.3% (9 to 12), a concerning upward trend. Public order offences in Dover were 10% below the UK average (0.6 per 1,000 vs 0.7 per 1,000), indicating effective local policing strategies or a lower incidence of alcohol-fuelled disturbances compared to other areas.

Dover's crime rate in June 2023 rose 6.3% compared to May, moving from 8.2 to 8.7 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, places the town in a slightly less favourable position relative to its own historical trends. On a daily basis, Dover experienced approximately 35 crimes per day in June—a figure that, while not alarmingly high, underscores the continuous presence of criminal activity in a town of 119,768 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 115 residents, a monthly exposure rate that translates to a tangible risk for local communities. When compared to the UK average, Dover's elevated rate of violence and sexual offences (3.9 per 1,000) contrasts with its relatively low burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000, 38% below the UK average). This disparity may reflect the town's reliance on service-sector employment and transient populations, which could contribute to higher interpersonal crime but lower property crime. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while Dover's overall crime rate is only marginally above the national average, specific categories—particularly violent crime—deviate significantly, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas.