Crime in West Bay: statistics, rates and trends
210 crimes were recorded in West Bay in the 12 months to July 2026, 67.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in West Bay at a glance
- Crime trends in West Bay
- Types of crime in West Bay
- West Bay compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Bay
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Bay
- Population and deprivation in West Bay
- Questions about crime in West Bay
- About this data
210 crimes were recorded in West Bay in the 12 months to July 2026, 67.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 79 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, West Bay has the 2,343rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | West Bay | Canterbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 210 | 17,618 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 67.3 | 108.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 3,120 | 162,100 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in West Bay was highest in the year to July 2020 (272 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (161). Over the whole period it fell 6%, 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 | 210 | 67.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 195 | 62.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 194 | 62.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 161 | 51.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 197 | 63.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 252 | 80.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 272 | 87.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 230 | 73.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 223 | 71.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 17 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 18 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 15 |
| January 2026 | 15 |
| December 2025 | 30 |
| November 2025 | 28 |
| October 2025 | 6 |
| September 2025 | 11 |
| August 2025 | 16 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Bay 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 possession of weapons. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+29%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 79 | 25.3 | 0.74 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 40 | 12.8 | 0.84 | +29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 23 | 7.4 | 1.09 | +44% |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 5.1 | 1.04 | +7% |
| Other theft | 11 | 3.5 | 0.55 | +10% |
| Burglary | 9 | 2.9 | 0.82 | +12% |
| Drugs | 9 | 2.9 | 0.88 | -36% |
| Public order | 7 | 2.2 | 0.34 | +17% |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.9 | 0.91 | -25% |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 1.3 | 1.32 | +100% |
| Shoplifting | 3 | 1.0 | 0.12 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.3 | 0.39 | +0% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.3 | 0.24 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.3 | 0.19 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in West Bay
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Bay recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 37.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in West Bay
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Bay recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 19.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in West Bay
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Bay recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in West Bay
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Bay recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in West Bay
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Bay recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in West Bay
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Bay recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in West Bay
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Bay recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in West Bay
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Bay recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in West Bay
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Bay recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in West Bay
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Bay recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in West Bay
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Bay recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in West Bay
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Bay recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in West Bay
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Bay recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in West Bay
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Bay 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 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to West Bay, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Bay.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill | 234 | 62.8 | -7% |
| Heron | 2,160 | 138.9 | +106% |
| Chestfield | 311 | 45.8 | -32% |
| Herne & Broomfield | 414 | 40.7 | -39% |
| Beltinge | 236 | 37.2 | -45% |
| Tankerton | 166 | 52.5 | -22% |
| Gorrell | 1,379 | 115.7 | +72% |
| Reculver | 255 | 57.5 | -15% |
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 West Bay over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Sussex Close | 39 |
| On or near Westbrook Court Way | 18 |
| On or near Beaumont Street | 15 |
| On or near Claremont Street | 15 |
| On or near Sunnyhill Road | 12 |
| On or near West Cliff Gardens | 11 |
| On or near Brooklands Close | 9 |
| On or near Grafton Rise | 9 |
| On or near Essex Avenue | 8 |
| On or near Hampton Pier Avenue | 8 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Bay 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 | 80 | 38.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 44 | 21.0% |
| Not recorded | 40 | 19.0% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 6.2% |
| Under investigation | 12 | 5.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 10 | 4.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 2.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 2 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% |
West Bay has an estimated population of 3,120. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Bay sits in decile 3.5, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | West Bay |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 55.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.4% |
| Social rented homes | 10.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.5 |
Is West Bay a safe place to live?
West Bay recorded 67.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 West Bay?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (40).
Is crime in West Bay going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Bay was up 8% on the year before: 210 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 195 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers West Bay?
West Bay is policed by Kent. 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 West Bay. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.