Littlestone-on-Sea Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

September 2024 marked an unexpected spike in possession of weapons offences in Littlestone-on-Sea, a coastal built-up area within Folkestone and Hythe, despite an overall crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents—54.5% below the UK average. This anomaly contrasts sharply with the broader trend of declining crime, as violent crimes accounted for 45% of all incidents, with violence and sexual offences remaining 39% below the UK average. Seasonal factors, including the start of the academic year and the transition from summer to autumn, may have influenced patterns, though the possession of weapons category defies easy explanation. Property crimes, at 5 incidents, were lower than the 9 violent crimes recorded, reflecting a balance skewed toward personal safety concerns. Criminal damage and arson, which surged by 200% compared to the previous month, and the 100% increase in burglary and possession of weapons cases, suggest localized pressures that may be linked to the area’s proximity to larger towns or seasonal events. However, the overall stability in the crime rate, combined with the UK’s significantly higher average of 7.7 per 1,000, indicates that Littlestone-on-Sea remains a relatively safe environment, albeit with pockets of unusual activity. The low crime volume, when scaled to the population, means that each resident faces a 1-in-290 chance of being directly affected by a crime in September—a statistic that, while modest, warrants attention given the spikes in specific categories.

The most unexpected shift in September 2024 was the 186% increase in possession of weapons cases, which rose to 0.2 per 1,000 residents—far above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This spike, despite a general decline in most crime categories, raises questions about localized factors influencing this particular offence. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson saw a 200% increase, jumping from one to three incidents, while burglary and possession of weapons both rose by 100% from zero to one each. This contrast with the 50% reductions in anti-social behaviour and other theft cases highlights a mixed picture of activity. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category at 45% of all crimes, decreased by 10%, though they still remain 39% below the UK average. These shifts suggest a combination of seasonal factors—such as the start of the academic year—and localized pressures that may not be fully captured by broader national trends.

Littlestone-on-Sea’s crime rate remained stable at 3.5 per 1,000 residents in September 2024, matching the rate recorded in the previous month. This consistency suggests no significant short-term shifts in overall criminal activity, though localized changes in specific categories merit closer attention. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly one reported crime per day over the 30-day period, a figure that contextualizes the low volume of incidents relative to its population of 5,802. When viewed through a monthly lens, the data indicates that over the course of September, one crime occurred for every 290 residents—a statistic that underscores the relatively low exposure to crime in this built-up coastal area. This monthly exposure rate is particularly striking when compared to the UK average, though direct comparisons are not provided for this metric. The population-scaled perspective highlights that the area’s crime burden remains low, with the exception of the possession of weapons category, which stands out as an anomaly in the breakdown.