Littlestone-on-Sea Crime Rate

Littlestone-on-Sea Crime Overview

Littlestone-on-Sea is an exceptionally safe urban settlement, recording an overall crime rate of 38.6 per 1,000 people per year. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 93.1, giving the area an impressive safety score of 90/100. The crime trend is also moving in a very positive direction, with a 14.8% decrease in total offences year-over-year. For its 5,802 residents, Littlestone-on-Sea provides a highly secure living environment that compares extremely well with both regional and national benchmarks. The data suggests that crime is very well-managed in this coastal community. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of local crime statistics and time-based patterns.

Crime Breakdown in Littlestone-on-Sea

In Littlestone-on-Sea, violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type, representing 53.6% of all reported incidents. Anti-social behaviour is also a concern, making up 12.5% of reports, followed by criminal damage and arson at 9.4%. These figures indicate that personal safety and community conduct are the primary focus for local policing in this coastal area.

Property crime, which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various thefts, occurs at an exceptionally low rate of 8.9 per 1,000 residents. This is much lower than the UK average of 32.9. Other thefts account for 6.2% of total crime, while burglary and vehicle crime make up 3.1% and 2.7% respectively. For residents, this suggests that Littlestone-on-Sea is an extremely safe urban settlement with a very low risk of property-related offences. However, the high percentage of violence and sexual offences (relative to total crime) highlights the importance of maintaining personal awareness.

Crime Trends in Littlestone-on-Sea

Littlestone-on-Sea has seen a significantly decreasing crime trend over the past year, with a 14.8% reduction in total offences. Monthly data shows that the crime rate per 1,000 people fluctuated from a low of 2.1 in February 2025 to a peak of 5.0 in August 2025.

The first half of 2025 saw some volatility, with the rate rising to 4.1 in January before falling. However, the rate showed a generally upward trajectory in the summer, peaking in August (5.0). Despite this seasonal increase, the rate fell significantly back to 2.2 in October. This overall downward trend and the low monthly figures confirm that Littlestone-on-Sea remains an exceptionally safe and secure environment for its residents.

How To Keep Safe in Littlestone-on-Sea

The most common crime in Littlestone-on-Sea is violence and sexual offences. To enhance personal safety, it is important to stay aware of your surroundings and take simple precautions.

When walking through the area, especially after dark, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid shortcuts through unlit paths or alleyways. If you are socialising late, it is always safer to travel with friends or use a reputable taxi service.

Given the rate of anti-social behaviour (12.5%) and criminal damage (9.4%), residents should ensure their homes and gardens are well-secured. Simple steps like installing motion-activated security lights and keeping gates locked can be very effective deterrents. For vehicle owners, although the rate of vehicle crime is very low, you should still ensure you never leave valuables on display and always double-lock your car. Joining a local Neighbourhood Watch group can also help you stay informed about local issues and work with your neighbours to maintain the area's high safety standards. Promptly reporting any suspicious behaviour to the police is also key to keeping Littlestone-on-Sea safe.

Crime Patterns in Littlestone-on-Sea

Crime in Littlestone-on-Sea shows clear variations throughout the day. In the morning (6am - 12pm), theft is the most prominent issue at 42%, while burglary accounts for 11%. As the day progresses into the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft remains high at 46%, and burglary increases to 18%. This suggests that daytime activity is primarily focused on property-related offences in residential areas.

In the evening (6pm - 12am), 'other' crimes, which include anti-social behaviour and public order offences, spike to 59% of total incidents. Theft drops significantly to 17%. Night-time (12am - 6am) brings a shift in risk, with burglary reaching its daily peak at 21% and vehicle crime rising to 24%. This data indicates that while theft is a daytime concern, residents should be most vigilant about home and vehicle security during the late night and early morning hours.

Local Context: Nearby Areas

In the local area, Littlestone-on-Sea is a standout for safety. Its crime rate of 38.6 is much lower than nearby New Romney, which has a much higher crime rate of 102.0 per 1,000. It is also significantly safer than other neighbouring areas such as Lydd (69.6), Dymchurch (53.0), and St Mary's Bay (51.8). This makes Littlestone-on-Sea one of the most secure choices for residents in the Folkestone and Hythe region, offering a peaceful residential environment that is notably safer than its more active neighbours.

Protecting Your Property in Littlestone-on-Sea

With an exceptionally low property crime rate of 8.9 per 1,000 people, Littlestone-on-Sea is one of the safest areas in the region, but maintaining this high level of security still requires proactive measures. Traditional security systems like basic alarms and recording-only CCTV often fail to prevent crimes, instead only providing footage of the event after it has occurred.

scOS provides a more effective, proactive alternative. By using AI to monitor your property's perimeter, scOS can detect and flag potential threats before they ever reach your home. For the 7 households that experience burglary annually, and the others affected by vehicle crime and theft, scOS offers the ability to stop these incidents entirely. Features like multi-camera intelligence and vehicle verification ensure that suspicious activity is identified in real-time. By triggering autonomous responses like lighting or audible warnings, scOS can deter opportunistic criminals, ensuring your home remains a hard target. This proactive approach is the best way to ensure your property remains highly secure in Littlestone-on-Sea.