Dover Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Dover’s crime profile in September 2025, accounting for 36.3% of all reported crimes. This category, which recorded 302 incidents, was 3% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, a figure that underscores the area’s relatively lower exposure to such crimes compared to the national trend. The dominance of violent crime in Dover is consistent with its status as a coastal town with a mix of urban and rural characteristics, where social interactions and community dynamics may contribute to higher rates of interpersonal conflict. Property crimes, including shoplifting and burglary, accounted for 33.9% of the total, with shoplifting alone making up 8.9% of all incidents. This aligns with Dover’s role as a retail hub, particularly for cross-channel trade, which may drive opportunistic theft. The seasonal context of September—marked by the return to school and university term-time activities—likely influenced crime patterns, as increased foot traffic and the presence of students could create environments conducive to both violent and property-related offences. However, the overall crime rate of 7.0 per 1,000 remained 5.4% below the UK average, suggesting that local factors such as community cohesion, policing strategies, or the geographic isolation of certain areas may play a role in mitigating crime. The breakdown of crimes also revealed a significant disparity in anti-social behaviour, which was 11% above the UK average, reflecting the challenges of managing public spaces in a town with a high volume of transient visitors and residents.

September 2025 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories. Possession of weapons increased by 87.5%, rising from 8 to 15 incidents, a sharp contrast to the 55.6% drop in robbery cases, which fell from 9 to 4. This shift may reflect seasonal changes, such as the start of the academic year, which could influence both public safety concerns and law enforcement priorities. Meanwhile, vehicle crime declined by 55.3%, from 38 to 17, a reduction that could be linked to the end of summer tourism and the return of residents to more stable routines. The data also reveals that anti-social behaviour in Dover was 11% above the UK average, a figure that may be tied to the town’s coastal character and the transient nature of some communities. In contrast, public order offences were 63% below the UK average, a discrepancy that could indicate the effectiveness of local policing strategies in maintaining order during the transition from summer to autumn.

Dover's crime rate in September 2025 stood at 7.0 per 1,000 residents, marking a 17.2% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.4 per 1,000. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical of September, when the pace of life in Dover slows as schools and universities transition back to term-time routines. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 28 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the density of population and the mix of urban and coastal environments. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 144 residents, a statistic that contextualises the frequency of incidents in relation to Dover’s population of 119,768. When compared to the UK average, this monthly exposure is lower, suggesting that local factors—such as community policing initiatives or geographic isolation—may contribute to the reduced likelihood of experiencing crime. However, the presence of specific interventions, and the comparison remains purely statistical.