Dover Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Dover's overall crime rate in January 2026 remained at 6.6 per 1,000 residents, exactly matching the UK average. This figure, while statistically neutral, masks significant variations in specific crime types. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 40.9% of all reported incidents (322 cases), with a rate of 2.7 per 1,000 — 11% above the UK average for this category. This pattern may reflect Dover's role as a major transport hub, where transient populations and high foot traffic in areas like the Harbour and Western Docks could contribute to incidents. Anti-social behaviour (120 cases, 15.3% of total) and criminal damage and arson (94 cases, 11.9%) also exceeded UK averages by 10% and 70% respectively, suggesting local pressures that may not be fully captured by national data. Seasonal factors appear to have influenced several trends: the post-holiday period in January typically sees reduced retail activity, which may explain lower shoplifting rates (0.5 per 1,000, 9% below UK average) but also the sharp rise in theft from the person (now 0.0 per 1,000, though this is a rounding artifact). The data also shows a clear shift in crime dynamics compared to December, with property crimes (233 cases) making up 29.6% of total incidents — a slight decrease from the previous month's 31.5% — while violent crimes rose to 40.9% from 37.2%. This shift may be tied to the transition from the Christmas period to the early new year, when social interactions and public events may alter crime patterns. Dover's coastal geography and port activity likely play a role in these dynamics, with commercial areas more prone to anti-social behaviour and criminal damage during periods of increased industrial or tourist activity.

January 2026 saw a stark increase in theft from the person, rising from 1 to 3 incidents — a 200% jump — and robbery cases more than tripling from 4 to 11 (+175%). These spikes, though small in absolute terms, highlight vulnerabilities in public spaces. Violent crimes remained the largest category, accounting for 40.9% of all reported incidents (322 cases), with a rate of 2.7 per 1,000 — 11% above the UK average for this category. Conversely, vehicle crime fell sharply by 64.6% (48 to 17), likely reflecting reduced traffic during the post-holiday period and shorter daylight hours. Other theft also declined by 26.9% (52 to 38), potentially linked to lower retail footfall. Criminal damage and arson in Dover (0.8 per 1,000) was 70% above the UK average, suggesting local factors such as the port's infrastructure or seasonal maintenance activities may contribute to this trend.

Dover's crime rate in January 2026 dropped by 7.5% compared to December 2025, falling from 7.1 to 6.6 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with the post-holiday lull typical of January, when reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours may partly explain lower outdoor crime. On a daily basis, 25 crimes were reported each day in January — a figure that, while consistent with seasonal patterns, remains a key metric for local awareness. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 152 residents, a rate that, when scaled to Dover's population of 119,768, illustrates the monthly exposure to crime. This figure is comparable to other coastal towns with similar demographic profiles, though specific local factors like Dover's port activity and tourism infrastructure may influence crime trends differently than in inland areas.