Crime in Kells and Sandwith: statistics, rates and trends
1,305 crimes were recorded in Kells and Sandwith in the 12 months to August 2026, 173.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Kells and Sandwith at a glance
- Crime trends in Kells and Sandwith
- Types of crime in Kells and Sandwith
- Kells and Sandwith compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Kells and Sandwith
- What happened after crimes were reported in Kells and Sandwith
- Demographics of Kells and Sandwith
- Questions about crime in Kells and Sandwith
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (685), public order (135) and criminal damage and arson (128) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 290th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Kells and Sandwith | Cumberland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,305 | 23,055 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 173.3 | 82.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 7,532 | 280,495 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Kells and Sandwith peaked in the year to August 2018 (1,546 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (1,091). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 16%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,305 | 173.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,376 | 182.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,423 | 188.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,374 | 182.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,429 | 189.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,091 | 144.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,448 | 192.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,435 | 190.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,546 | 205.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 115 |
| July 2026 | 98 |
| June 2026 | 117 |
| May 2026 | 104 |
| April 2026 | 125 |
| March 2026 | 85 |
| February 2026 | 104 |
| January 2026 | 109 |
| December 2025 | 132 |
| November 2025 | 107 |
| October 2025 | 116 |
| September 2025 | 93 |
Compared with England and Wales, Kells and Sandwith recorded notably more possession of weapons (2.7 times the national rate), public order (2.7 times the national rate) and violence and sexual offences (2.7 times the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (51% below) and vehicle crime (44% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 27 to 35, while anti-social behaviour fell from 152 to 95 and drugs fell from 77 to 60.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 685 | 90.9 | 34.2 | +6% |
| Public order | 135 | 17.9 | 6.7 | -21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 128 | 17.0 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 95 | 12.6 | 15.4 | -38% |
| Drugs | 60 | 8.0 | 3.3 | -22% |
| Other theft | 59 | 7.8 | 6.4 | -17% |
| Other crime | 35 | 4.6 | 2.1 | +30% |
| Shoplifting | 31 | 4.1 | 8.5 | +15% |
| Burglary | 26 | 3.5 | 3.6 | -21% |
| Vehicle crime | 21 | 2.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 2.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Kells and Sandwith has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kells and Sandwith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirehouse | 349 | 65.0 | -63% |
| Hillcrest and Hensingham | 447 | 74.3 | -57% |
| Bransty | 137 | 29.3 | -83% |
| Egremont North and St Bees | 275 | 59.5 | -66% |
| Cleator Moor West | 466 | 81.6 | -53% |
| Howgate | 186 | 35.0 | -80% |
| Cleator Moor East and Frizington | 339 | 56.4 | -67% |
| Egremont | 535 | 87.8 | -49% |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Kells and Sandwith over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Nightclub” (112).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Nightclub | 112 |
| On or near Duke Street | 82 |
| On or near Gregg'S Lane | 54 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 50 |
| On or near Peter Street | 46 |
| On or near George Street | 43 |
| On or near James Street | 42 |
| On or near Scotch Street | 40 |
| On or near New Street | 37 |
| On or near Parking Area | 37 |
Of the 1,210 crimes in Kells and Sandwith with a recorded outcome, 14% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 9.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 95 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 535 | 44.2% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 171 | 14.1% | 11.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 168 | 13.9% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 112 | 9.3% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 63 | 5.2% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 58 | 4.8% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 49 | 4.0% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 21 | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 15 | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.3% | 1.3% |
Kells and Sandwith has an estimated population of 7,532 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (28%, against 17%), fewer students (4.0%, against 7.9%) and more residents with no qualifications (26%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Kells and Sandwith average decile 3.3 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Kells and Sandwith | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 26.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 32.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 56.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 28.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.3 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 42.7% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Kells and Sandwith a safe place to live?
Kells and Sandwith recorded 173.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 290th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were possession of weapons and public order.
What is the most common crime in Kells and Sandwith?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 685 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by public order (135).
Is crime in Kells and Sandwith going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kells and Sandwith was down 5% on the year before: 1,305 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,376 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Kells and Sandwith?
About 7,532 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Kells and Sandwith?
Kells and Sandwith 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.