Folkestone and Hythe Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Folkestone and Hythe's December 2023 crime profile reveals a distinct balance of crime types that reflects the area's coastal character and seasonal dynamics. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 48.6% of all reported incidents, a share that is 11% higher than the UK average for this category. This overrepresentation of violent crime may be influenced by the town's role as a regional hub for transport and tourism, which brings transient populations and potentially increases opportunities for interpersonal conflict. Anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, was 25% below the UK average, a trend that could be linked to the seasonal slowdown in commercial activity and reduced crowding in public spaces during the holiday period. The overall crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents was 16.7% below the UK average, a figure that underscores the area's relatively low risk of encountering crime compared to the national context. This discrepancy is amplified by the underperformance of property-related crimes: shoplifting, vehicle crime, and burglary were all significantly below UK averages, with shoplifting at 39% below and vehicle crime at 56% below. The low incidence of property crime may be attributed to the town's seasonal character, where empty homes and reduced retail activity during December create fewer opportunities for such offences. However, the high proportion of violent crime contrasts with this trend, suggesting that local factors—such as the presence of transient populations or the influence of nearby urban centres—may play a role in shaping the area's crime profile. The seasonal context of December, with its dark evenings and holiday-related closures, likely contributes to the higher prevalence of violent incidents, as the reduced visibility and altered social rhythms may create conditions conducive to such crimes.

December 2023 saw a notable 40.0% increase in possession of weapons, rising from 10 to 14 incidents. This spike, though small in absolute terms, contrasts with the 50.0% drop in robbery cases, which fell from 2 to 1. The decrease in robbery may be attributed to the holiday season, when businesses and public spaces are less frequented. Meanwhile, the 35.5% reduction in criminal damage and arson from 76 to 49 incidents could reflect seasonal closures of commercial properties and reduced foot traffic during the festive period. The crime mix also reveals a stark divergence from UK averages: violence and sexual offences in the area were 11% higher than the national rate, while anti-social behaviour was 25% below. This imbalance suggests that local factors—such as the town's proximity to major transport links or the presence of transient populations during the holiday season—may influence the prevalence of violent crimes. For residents, the 100% drop in bicycle theft and theft from the person, both falling to zero incidents, indicates that targeted prevention efforts or seasonal inactivity may have effectively reduced these categories.

Folkestone and Hythe's crime rate in December 2023 (6.0 per 1,000 residents) marked a 17.4% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.3 per 1,000. This reduction aligns with seasonal patterns typical of coastal towns during the winter holiday period, when tourism activity declines and local businesses close early. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 22 crimes per day in December, a figure that reflects the local rhythm of a seaside community rather than a dense urban centre. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 167 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average when scaled to the population. This suggests that, despite the area's proximity to major transport routes and its tourist infrastructure, the overall risk of encountering crime remains relatively low compared to the national context. The population-scaled perspective further highlights that the area's crime profile is more aligned with smaller coastal towns than with large metropolitan areas, where crime rates tend to cluster around higher per capita levels.