Folkestone and Hythe Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Folkestone and Hythe recorded a crime rate of 7.3 per 1,000 residents in May 2025, placing it 9.9% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects a combination of local dynamics and seasonal influences, with the area's character as a coastal town likely shaping crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 41.7% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (13.7%) and criminal damage and arson (9.9%). The seasonal context of May—marked by longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—may have contributed to the 14.4% rise in violence and sexual offences, as such activities often correlate with higher rates of alcohol-related incidents. However, the area's overall safety profile remains strong, with several categories, including vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour, significantly below national averages. For instance, vehicle crime in Folkestone and Hythe stood at 0.2 per 1,000, 50% below the UK average, a disparity that may stem from the town's lower population density and fewer high-traffic zones. Similarly, anti-social behaviour rates were 30% below the UK average, reflecting the effectiveness of local community policing or the town's smaller scale, which may facilitate more direct interventions. The data also highlights a potential seasonal anomaly: while violence increased, other property crimes such as burglary and shoplifting saw declines. This divergence could be attributed to targeted initiatives, such as increased surveillance in residential areas, or the natural ebb and flow of criminal activity tied to local events. As the summer months approach, the area's crime profile may continue to evolve, with the interplay of tourism, seasonal festivals, and changing weather patterns likely to influence future trends. The overall trajectory, however, suggests a resilient local environment where efforts to address specific crime types have yielded measurable results, even as new challenges emerge.

May 2025 saw a notable 42.3% decline in burglary, with incidents falling from 26 to 15. This reduction may partly reflect improved community engagement or seasonal factors, as shorter days and warmer weather can deter certain types of property crime. Conversely, violence and sexual offences increased by 14.4%, rising from 298 to 341, a trend that contrasts with the UK average for this category (2.8 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour remained 30% below the UK average (1.0 per 1,000), suggesting that local initiatives or environmental factors may be effective in curbing such incidents. The most dramatic shift was in robbery, which surged by 233.3% (3 to 10), a figure that warrants closer scrutiny given its sharp departure from historical patterns. Meanwhile, vehicle crime remained 50% below the UK average (0.2 per 1,000), linked to the area's lower density of car parks or increased police presence in high-traffic zones.

Folkestone and Hythe's crime rate in May 2025 stood at 7.3 per 1,000 residents, a 4.5% decrease from the previous month's 7.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader trend of reduced property-related offences, such as burglary, which fell by 42.3% (26 to 15). On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 26 crimes per day, a figure that, while consistent with local patterns, remains lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. Over the course of the month, 1-in-138 residents experienced a reported crime, a rate that places the area well below the UK's typical monthly exposure figures. This suggests that, despite fluctuations in specific categories, the overall environment remains relatively safer compared to national benchmarks. The population context further underscores that the 112,411 residents here face a crime risk that is lower than the UK average, though localised spikes in violent crime require continued monitoring.