Crime Rate in Folkestone and Hythe: Trends, Hotspots

Overview of Crime in Folkestone and Hythe

The total recorded crimes in Folkestone and Hythe, UK in February 2026 are around 716 as per the recent police data. This equates to a Folkestone and Hythe crime rate of 6.52 per 1,000 population.

It's important to note that this crime data is based on the Geographic Boundry data provided by the ONS around Folkestone and Hythe, encompassing approximately 109,759 residents.

Most occured crime Types

The most prevalent crimes in the area during Feb were:

  • Violence and sexual offences: (277) incidents (2.21% increase)
  • Anti-social behaviour: (131) incidents (35.05% increase)
  • Criminal damage and arson: (68) incidents (17.24% increase)
Folkestone and Hythe Crime Hotspots

The surrounding areas of below locations have emerged as crime hotspots,

  • Cheriton Interchange with total crimes: 17
  • Marine Terrace with total crimes: 14
  • Police Station with total crimes: 13

Folkestone and Hythe Police Info:

Kent Police

How safe is Folkestone and Hythe?

To understand the safety of Folkestone and Hythe, we need to analyze Folkestone and Hythe crime statistics in relation to both national and regional averages. This report will examine the available data and provide a balanced assessment.

  • Relative to the UK:

    • Folkestone and Hythe has recorded 10,629 crimes in the current year, resulting in a crime rate of 96.84 per 1,000 residents. This places it at rank 146 out of 331 in the UK, indicating it is safer than average.

    • Yearly trends show that in the previous year, the city recorded 10,233 crimes with a crime rate of 93.23, ranking it 140 in the UK. This an increase in crime suggests Negative changes.

  • Relative to Kent:

    • In 2024, Folkestone and Hythe demonstrated a lower crime volume than the Kent average, with 10629 crimes compared to 13931.0. This suggests a relatively safer position within the region for the year. Furthermore, Folkestone and Hythe witnessed more crimes than 8 out of 11 other cities.

    • In 2023, Folkestone and Hythe had fewer crimes than the Kent average, with 10,233 crimes compared to 13,095. This reflects a relatively lower crime rate for the city within the region that year. Furthermore, Folkestone and Hythe witnessed more crimes than 9 out of 11 other cities.

  • Overall Assessment:

    • Based on the available data, Folkestone and Hythe is considered safer compared to the national averages.

    • Compared to other cities in Kent, Folkestone and Hythe has a lower crime rate in 2024.

    • The trend in crime rates suggests Negative changes in overall safety.

Folkestone and Hythe Crime Statstics

In February 2026 the Folkestone and Hythe has recorded 716 crimes with crime rate of 6.52 ranking 156th out of 331 in the UK and ranked 9 out 331 in terms of total crimes and 9 in terms of crime rate in Kent.

In 2024, the total Folkestone and Hythe crimes were 10,629. The crime rate of Folkestone and Hythe in 2024 was 96.84 (year) or 8.07 (month) ranking it 146 danzarous in the UK. Folkestone and Hythe ranked 9 in terms of total crimes and 8 in terms of crime rate in Kent.

In 2023, the total crimes in Folkestone and Hythe were around 10,233 crimes with yearly crime rate of 93.23 (year) or 7.77 (month) ranking 140 out 331 most dangerous city in the UK. As compared to neighboring cities in Kent, Folkestone and Hythe ranked 10 out 331 in terms of total crimes or 8 as per crime rate of Folkestone and Hythe

CityFebruary 202620242023
CrimesRank (Kent)CrimesRank (Kent)CrimesRank (Kent)
Sevenoaks585 139,267 119,149 12
Tonbridge and Malling677 129,859 1210,249 11
Tunbridge Wells692 119,548 109,318 10
Ashford764 1012,638 911,651 9
Maidstone1,199 820,408 517,055 7
Dover782 712,554 712,219 6
Canterbury1,308 117,254 616,993 5
Swale1,209 517,812 416,687 4
Dartford1,101 414,503 312,932 3
Gravesham791 313,542 212,627 2
Thanet1,211 219,161 118,027 1

Folkestone and Hythe Crime Map

Detailed Crime Data Analysis

Monthly Trends

February 2026 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 277 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 131 incidents.

During January 2026, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (271 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (97 cases).

December 2025 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 284 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 116 incidents.

During November 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (317 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (138 cases).

In October 2025, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (273 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (112 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (226 incidents) were the most common in September 2025, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (121 incidents) also being high.

For August 2025 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (364 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (191 incidents).

July 2025 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 383 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 173 incidents.

During June 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (331 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (118 cases).

In May 2025, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (347 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (112 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (302 incidents) were the most common in April 2025, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (133 incidents) also being high.

For March 2025 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (335 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (87 incidents).

February 2025 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 316 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 74 incidents.

Crime TypeCountCrime RateChange

Crime by Type

A total of 133 Possession of weapons incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 10.23 incidents per month. February 2026 saw the highest number of Possession of weapons incidents with 20 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202620
January 202617
December 202510
November 202513
October 20256
September 20258
August 20257
July 202510
June 20257
May 202510
April 202512
March 20255
February 20258

A total of 817 Shoplifting incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 62.85 incidents per month. August 2025 saw the highest number of Shoplifting incidents with 88 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202646
January 202660
December 202547
November 202562
October 202578
September 202553
August 202588
July 202575
June 202559
May 202562
April 202565
March 202561
February 202561

A total of 1603 Anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 123.31 incidents per month. August 2025 saw the highest number of Anti-social behaviour incidents with 191 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 2026131
January 202697
December 2025116
November 2025138
October 2025112
September 2025121
August 2025191
July 2025173
June 2025118
May 2025112
April 2025133
March 202587
February 202574

A total of 481 Drugs incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 37.00 incidents per month. January 2026 saw the highest number of Drugs incidents with 57 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202640
January 202657
December 202545
November 202530
October 202535
September 202526
August 202544
July 202528
June 202532
May 202537
April 202540
March 202541
February 202526

A total of 320 Other crime incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 24.62 incidents per month. March 2025 saw the highest number of Other crime incidents with 41 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202621
January 202632
December 202513
November 202529
October 202532
September 202520
August 202519
July 202528
June 202519
May 202518
April 202524
March 202541
February 202524

A total of 51 Bicycle theft incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 3.92 incidents per month. October 2025 saw the highest number of Bicycle theft incidents with 11 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 20265
January 20263
December 20251
November 20251
October 202511
September 20253
August 20252
July 20258
June 20255
May 20255
April 20254
March 20252
February 20251

A total of 4026 Violence and sexual offences incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 309.69 incidents per month. July 2025 saw the highest number of Violence and sexual offences incidents with 383 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 2026277
January 2026271
December 2025284
November 2025317
October 2025273
September 2025226
August 2025364
July 2025383
June 2025331
May 2025347
April 2025302
March 2025335
February 2025316

A total of 283 Vehicle crime incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 21.77 incidents per month. February 2025 saw the highest number of Vehicle crime incidents with 39 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202624
January 202618
December 202516
November 202521
October 202529
September 202519
August 202517
July 202518
June 202512
May 202527
April 202524
March 202519
February 202539

A total of 52 Theft from the person incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 4.00 incidents per month. August 2025 saw the highest number of Theft from the person incidents with 8 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 20263
January 20263
December 20255
November 20252
October 20253
September 20257
August 20258
July 20256
June 20252
May 20252
April 20255
March 20253
February 20253

A total of 83 Robbery incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 6.38 incidents per month. August 2025 saw the highest number of Robbery incidents with 13 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 20264
January 20264
December 202511
November 20251
October 20257
September 202510
August 202513
July 20257
June 20253
May 202510
April 20253
March 20256
February 20254

A total of 487 Public order incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 37.46 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Public order incidents with 54 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202618
January 202632
December 202530
November 202546
October 202543
September 202536
August 202529
July 202551
June 202529
May 202544
April 202554
March 202544
February 202531

A total of 721 Other theft incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 55.46 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Other theft incidents with 77 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202637
January 202656
December 202553
November 202560
October 202558
September 202558
August 202548
July 202555
June 202555
May 202555
April 202577
March 202553
February 202556

A total of 896 Criminal damage and arson incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 68.92 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Criminal damage and arson incidents with 98 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202668
January 202658
December 202572
November 202570
October 202554
September 202548
August 202582
July 202567
June 202565
May 202581
April 202598
March 202574
February 202559

A total of 272 Burglary incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 20.92 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Burglary incidents with 26 reported cases.

MonthCount
February 202622
January 202613
December 202517
November 202525
October 202524
September 202519
August 202519
July 202522
June 202522
May 202515
April 202526
March 202523
February 202525

High Crime Locations Folkestone and Hythe in February 2026

A detailed breakdown of crime incidents by location within the Folkestone and Hythe postcode area is presented below.

1. Cheriton Interchange (Map)
Total17
Shoplifting11
Anti-social behaviour3
Vehicle crime1
Robbery1
Criminal damage and arson1
2. Marine Terrace (Map)
Total14
Anti-social behaviour7
Violence and sexual offences4
Criminal damage and arson2
Other theft1
3. Police Station (Map)
Total13
Criminal damage and arson8
Public order2
Drugs2
Possession of weapons1
4. Coolinge Road (Map)
Total8
Violence and sexual offences5
Possession of weapons2
Other crime1
5. Brooks Way (Map)
Total7
Violence and sexual offences6
Public order1
6. Wells Road (Map)
Total7
Violence and sexual offences5
Public order1
Other crime1

  • Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Contains Office for National Statistics data licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.