Crime in Bowness and Lyth: statistics, rates and trends
400 crimes were recorded in Bowness and Lyth in the 12 months to August 2026, 103.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Bowness and Lyth at a glance
- Crime trends in Bowness and Lyth
- Types of crime in Bowness and Lyth
- Bowness and Lyth compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Bowness and Lyth
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bowness and Lyth
- Demographics of Bowness and Lyth
- Questions about crime in Bowness and Lyth
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (215), other theft (41), criminal damage and arson (36) and public order (36) made up 82% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,165th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Bowness and Lyth | Westmorland and Furness | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 400 | 16,568 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 103.3 | 72.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 3,874 | 230,185 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Bowness and Lyth peaked in the year to August 2018 (449 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (341). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 400 | 103.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 441 | 113.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 341 | 88.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 373 | 96.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 354 | 91.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 347 | 89.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 382 | 98.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 411 | 106.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 449 | 115.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 40 |
| July 2026 | 32 |
| June 2026 | 46 |
| May 2026 | 40 |
| April 2026 | 25 |
| March 2026 | 29 |
| February 2026 | 35 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| September 2025 | 34 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bowness and Lyth recorded notably more other theft (64% above the national rate), violence and sexual offences (62% above the national rate) and public order (39% above the national rate). On the year before, other theft rose from 31 to 41.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 215 | 55.5 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Other theft | 41 | 10.6 | 6.4 | +32% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 36 | 9.3 | 6.7 | -5% |
| Public order | 36 | 9.3 | 6.7 | -10% |
| Drugs | 19 | 4.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 17 | 4.4 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Anti-social behaviour | 14 | 3.6 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 2.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 5 | 1.3 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Bowness and Lyth; the highest is Kendal Strickland and Fell (132.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Kendal Castle (22.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bowness and Lyth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kendal Highgate | 482 | 81.0 | -22% |
| Kendal South | 439 | 58.5 | -43% |
| Kendal Strickland and Fell | 887 | 132.1 | +28% |
| Upper Kent | 154 | 37.3 | -64% |
| Levens and Crooklands | 152 | 35.8 | -65% |
| Kendal Castle | 133 | 22.9 | -78% |
| Kendal Nether | 591 | 91.3 | -12% |
| Kent Estuary | 190 | 30.4 | -71% |
The 10 locations below account for 60% of the crime recorded in Bowness and Lyth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Robinson Place” (48).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Robinson Place | 48 |
| On or near Parking Area | 43 |
| On or near St Martin'S Place | 28 |
| On or near Biskey Howe Fold | 23 |
| On or near Ferry Terminal | 23 |
| On or near Church Street | 19 |
| On or near Ash Street | 18 |
| On or near St Martin'S Parade | 16 |
| On or near Rayrigg Road | 14 |
| On or near Back Belsfield Road | 10 |
Of the 386 crimes in Bowness and Lyth with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 14 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 148 | 38.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 92 | 23.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 47 | 12.2% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 29 | 7.5% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 6.5% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24 | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.6% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Bowness and Lyth has an estimated population of 3,874 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (6.6%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (11%, against 23%) and fewer students (3.9%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bowness and Lyth average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Bowness and Lyth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 12.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 42.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 11.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 24.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bowness and Lyth a safe place to live?
Bowness and Lyth recorded 103.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,165th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other theft and violence and sexual offences.
What is the most common crime in Bowness and Lyth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 215 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by other theft (41).
Is crime in Bowness and Lyth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bowness and Lyth was down 9% on the year before: 400 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 441 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bowness and Lyth?
About 3,874 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bowness and Lyth?
Bowness and Lyth is policed by Cumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.