Dover Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Dover’s crime rate in January 2024 reached 7.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 2.7% above the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This figure, while not alarmingly high, signals a persistent challenge for local authorities and residents. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 43.3% of all reported incidents—nearly 16 percentage points above the UK average of 27% for this category. This stark divergence highlights a localised concentration of violent crime that warrants attention. Anti-social behaviour followed as the second most common category, contributing 12.2% of all crimes, though it remained 9% below the UK average. The seasonal context of January, with its post-holiday lull and shorter daylight hours, may have influenced the types of crimes reported. For instance, the significant rise in shoplifting—68 incidents, up 65.9% from December—could be attributed to reduced retail footfall and increased opportunistic theft in commercial zones. Meanwhile, the UK average for shoplifting remained stable at 0.6 per 1,000, with Dover’s rate at 0.6 per 1,000, indicating a slight but notable upward trend. These patterns suggest that local factors, such as the town’s status as a major port and coastal resort, may intersect with seasonal dynamics to shape crime trends. The data also reveals a combination of property and violent crime, with property crimes accounting for 30.3% of total incidents (277 cases), compared to 43.3% for violent crimes. This imbalance may reflect the area’s demographic mix, with a significant portion of the population working in sectors like tourism and logistics, which could contribute to both property-related and interpersonal crime. The rise in violence and sexual offences, in particular, raises questions about community safety and the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas.

January 2024 saw a sharp increase in robbery and theft from the person, both doubling from their December levels. Robbery, which had not been reported in the previous month, rose to six incidents, while theft from the person also surged to six cases. These spikes, though small in absolute numbers, represent a 100% increase and may be linked to post-holiday patterns or increased foot traffic in retail areas. Meanwhile, shoplifting rose by 65.9% to 68 incidents, suggesting a shift in criminal activity toward retail environments. Conversely, bicycle theft fell by 60%, possibly reflecting seasonal trends or increased security measures in local cycling hubs. The crime mix also shifted notably: violent crimes accounted for 43.3% of all reported incidents, significantly higher than the UK average of 27% for the same category. This imbalance underscores a localised challenge, with violence and sexual offences contributing to Dover’s crime profile compared to the national picture.

Dover's crime rate in January 2024 rose by 3.8% compared to December 2023, climbing to 7.6 per 1,000 residents from 7.4 per 1,000. This shift, though modest, reflects a broader trend in local crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area saw an average of 30 crimes reported each day in January, underscoring the persistent presence of criminal activity in the community. When considering the monthly exposure, one reported crime occurred for every 131 residents over the course of the month. This figure provides a tangible sense of the scale of crime relative to Dover’s population of 119,768. While the rate remains close to the UK average, the directional movement from December to January suggests a need for continued vigilance, particularly in areas where crime rates have shown notable increases. The population context further highlights that, despite the rise, Dover’s crime rate remains within a range typical for similar coastal towns in the UK.