New Romney Crime Rate

New Romney Crime Overview

New Romney currently maintains an overall crime rate of 102.0 per 1,000 residents, which sits slightly above the UK national average of 93.1. Despite this figure, the area achieves a safety score of 75/100, indicating that while the volume of incidents is higher than some rural counterparts, the severity and impact of these crimes are relatively controlled compared to many UK urban centres. The recent trend direction for New Romney is classified as stable, with a 0.0% change in year-over-year crime figures. This consistency suggests a predictable environment for the town's 3,881 residents. The following data provides a detailed analysis of local crime types, temporal patterns, and safety recommendations to help residents and visitors understand the local landscape.

Crime Breakdown in New Romney

The most prevalent crime categories in New Romney are violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, and other theft. Violence and sexual offences represent the largest portion of local incidents, with 175 reported cases, accounting for 44.2% of all crime. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 14.4% and other theft at 9.3%. These figures highlight that while interpersonal and social conduct issues are the primary concern, property-related offences also maintain a significant presence in the community.

Property crime in New Romney—which encompasses burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft—reaches a combined rate of 30.9 per 1,000 residents. This is marginally lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.9. Within this category, 'other theft' and criminal damage are the most frequent, while more invasive crimes like burglary (0.3 per 1,000) and robbery (0.5 per 1,000) remain exceptionally rare. For homeowners, this suggests that while the risk of forced entry is low, the protection of external assets and general property remains a relevant consideration for maintaining local safety levels.

Crime Trends in New Romney

The crime trend in New Romney is currently described as stable, with a 0.0% change in the total number of incidents over the last 12 months. This stability is a positive sign for the community, indicating that crime levels are not escalating despite national economic pressures. However, a closer look at the monthly trendData reveals some seasonal fluctuations.

The highest spike in activity occurred in July 2025, where the crime rate reached 13.1 per 1,000 people. This summer peak is common in coastal towns like New Romney, often coinciding with increased visitor numbers and tourism. Conversely, the safest month was June 2025, with a rate of 5.2, followed closely by May at 5.7. The end of 2024 and start of 2025 saw rates hovering between 7.2 and 10.3. For residents, this suggests that while the annual average is stable, vigilance should be increased during the peak summer months when the transient population is highest.

How To Keep Safe in New Romney

The most prevalent crime type in New Romney is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for over 44% of local incidents. While these statistics often include domestic incidents and non-stranger violence, maintaining personal safety in public spaces remains important for all residents.

1. Stay Aware in Social Settings: When visiting local pubs or social hubs, stay aware of your surroundings and avoid escalating confrontations. Use well-lit routes when walking home after dark.
2. Secure Personal Belongings: With 'other theft' being the third most common crime, ensure bags, phones, and wallets are never left unattended in public places or unlocked vehicles.
3. Report Anti-Social Behaviour: ASB is the second highest category here. Reporting persistent issues to the local council or police helps authorities allocate resources to hotspots before problems escalate.
4. Improve Perimeter Visibility: Ensure your home’s exterior is well-lit with motion-activated lighting. This discourages loitering and provides clear visibility for any security cameras you may have installed.
5. Utilise Community Networks: Join local neighbourhood watch or community social media groups to stay informed about recent local activity and share safety tips with neighbours.

Temporal Crime Patterns in New Romney

Crime in New Romney follows distinct patterns throughout the day, closely tied to the town's commercial and social rhythms. During the morning and afternoon hours, theft-related offences are at their peak, accounting for 59% and 65% of incidents respectively. This suggests that opportunistic crime is most common during business hours when foot traffic is higher. As the day transitions into the evening, the nature of crime shifts; theft drops to 28%, while 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order issues, rise to 64%.

The night-time period (12am to 6am) sees a significant spike in vehicle-related crime, which accounts for 24% of all incidents during these hours—its highest proportion of the day. This indicates that while overall crime volume may be lower at night, vehicles parked on streets or in driveways become primary targets. Understanding these shifts allows residents to better time their security measures, focusing on personal property during the day and vehicle and perimeter security overnight.

Local Context: Comparing New Romney

When considering New Romney within the wider Folkestone and Hythe region, its crime rate of 102.0 per 1,000 people makes it the most active area among its immediate neighbours. In contrast, Littlestone-on-Sea reports a much lower rate of 38.6, and St Mary's Bay sits at 51.8. Dymchurch also presents a lower profile with 53.0 crimes per 1,000 residents. Lydd, while closer to New Romney's figures, remains lower at 69.6. For those looking at the region, New Romney acts as a central hub where more activity occurs, which is often reflected in higher reported statistics. However, the high safety score across these coastal settlements suggests that the entire Romney Marsh area remains a relatively secure part of Kent.

Proactive Protection in New Romney

With a property crime rate of 30.9 per 1,000 residents, New Romney homeowners should focus on prevention rather than just evidence collection. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, often only provide footage after a crime has been committed. In an area where 'other theft' and criminal damage are the primary property concerns, reactive systems may not be enough to stop an incident.

The scOS operating system offers a proactive alternative by using AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundaries. Rather than waiting for a sensor to be tripped, scOS detects unusual patterns and potential threats before they reach your door. For New Romney residents, this means the system can identify a trespasser or someone scouting a vehicle and activate autonomous responses—such as engaging speakers or lighting—to destroy the element of surprise. By implementing a system that prevents crime through real-time intervention, you ensure that your property does not contribute to the local statistics. Proactive protection is about making your home an unattractive target, forcing opportunistic criminals to move on.