Crime in Thanet: statistics, rates and trends

16,349 crimes were recorded in Thanet in the 12 months to July 2026, 114.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 6,543 reports (40% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Thanet has the 57th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Thanet was highest in the year to July 2018 (23,699 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (16,349). Over the whole period it fell 31%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Thanet over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in robbery (+59%) and anti-social behaviour (+16%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-33%) and burglary (-30%).

Violence and sexual offences in Thanet

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Thanet recorded 6,543 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (45.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 40.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Thanet

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Thanet recorded 3,093 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 18.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Thanet

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Thanet recorded 1,451 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Thanet

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Thanet recorded 1,203 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Thanet

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Thanet recorded 1,005 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Thanet

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Thanet recorded 686 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Thanet

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Thanet recorded 685 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Thanet

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Thanet recorded 472 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Thanet

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Thanet recorded 430 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Thanet

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Thanet recorded 303 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Thanet

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Thanet recorded 175 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Thanet

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Thanet recorded 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 59% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Thanet

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Thanet recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Thanet

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Thanet recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Thanet, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Thanet.

29 areas within Thanet, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Margate Central had the highest rate (388.9 per 1,000) and Birchington North the lowest (32.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Thanet over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Thanet over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Thanet has an estimated population of 142,691. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Thanet sits in decile 3.7, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Thanet. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.