Crime in Bowness and Lyth: statistics, rates and trends
407 crimes were recorded in Bowness and Lyth in the 12 months to July 2026, 105.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Bowness and Lyth
- Questions about crime in Bowness and Lyth
- About this data
407 crimes were recorded in Bowness and Lyth in the 12 months to July 2026, 105.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 216 reports (53% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Bowness and Lyth has the 1,121st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bowness and Lyth | Westmorland and Furness | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 407 | 16,685 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 105.1 | 72.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | +0% | -1% |
| Population | 3,874 | 230,185 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bowness and Lyth was highest in the year to July 2018 (444 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (333). Over the whole period it fell 8%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 407 | 105.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 435 | 112.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 333 | 86.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 370 | 95.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 364 | 94.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 347 | 89.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 375 | 96.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 425 | 109.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 444 | 114.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 47 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bowness and Lyth 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, public order, other theft.
The largest increases were in other theft (+50%) and public order (+19%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-51%) and drugs (-46%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 216 | 55.8 | 1.63 | +5% |
| Public order | 43 | 11.1 | 1.67 | +19% |
| Other theft | 42 | 10.8 | 1.70 | +50% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 33 | 8.5 | 1.26 | -20% |
| Drugs | 19 | 4.9 | 1.50 | -46% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 17 | 4.4 | 0.29 | -51% |
| Shoplifting | 17 | 4.4 | 0.53 | +13% |
| Burglary | 10 | 2.6 | 0.73 | +0% |
| Vehicle crime | 4 | 1.0 | 0.21 | -67% |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.8 | 0.37 | -62% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.5 | 0.53 | -60% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.3 | 0.15 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bowness and Lyth
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bowness and Lyth recorded 216 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (55.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 53.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bowness and Lyth
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bowness and Lyth recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 10.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bowness and Lyth
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bowness and Lyth recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bowness and Lyth
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bowness and Lyth recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bowness and Lyth
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bowness and Lyth recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 46% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bowness and Lyth
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bowness and Lyth recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 51% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bowness and Lyth
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bowness and Lyth recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bowness and Lyth
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bowness and Lyth recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bowness and Lyth
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bowness and Lyth recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bowness and Lyth
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bowness and Lyth recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bowness and Lyth
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bowness and Lyth recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bowness and Lyth
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bowness and Lyth recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Bowness and Lyth, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bowness and Lyth.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bowness and Lyth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kendal Highgate | 471 | 79.2 | -25% |
| Kendal South | 440 | 58.6 | -44% |
| Kendal Strickland and Fell | 891 | 132.7 | +26% |
| Upper Kent | 151 | 36.6 | -65% |
| Levens and Crooklands | 158 | 37.2 | -65% |
| Kendal Castle | 143 | 24.6 | -77% |
| Kendal Nether | 585 | 90.4 | -14% |
| Kent Estuary | 199 | 31.9 | -70% |
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 Bowness and Lyth over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Robinson Place | 48 |
| On or near Parking Area | 46 |
| On or near St Martin'S Place | 32 |
| On or near Ferry Terminal | 27 |
| On or near Biskey Howe Fold | 25 |
| On or near Ash Street | 19 |
| On or near Church Street | 18 |
| On or near Promenade | 15 |
| On or near St Martin'S Parade | 13 |
| On or near Rayrigg Road | 12 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bowness and Lyth 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 144 | 35.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 89 | 21.9% |
| Under investigation | 56 | 13.8% |
| Local resolution | 30 | 7.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 6.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 22 | 5.4% |
| Not recorded | 17 | 4.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 8 | 2.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.2% |
Bowness and Lyth has an estimated population of 3,874. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bowness and Lyth sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bowness and Lyth |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 12.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.3% |
| Social rented homes | 6.6% |
| Private rented homes | 24.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
Is Bowness and Lyth a safe place to live?
Bowness and Lyth recorded 105.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Bowness and Lyth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 216 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (43).
Is crime in Bowness and Lyth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bowness and Lyth was down 6% on the year before: 407 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 435 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bowness and Lyth?
Bowness and Lyth is policed by Cumbria. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Bowness and Lyth. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.