Crime in West Bay: statistics, rates and trends
212 crimes were recorded in West Bay in the 12 months to August 2026, 67.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (80), anti-social behaviour (42) and criminal damage and arson (23) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,313th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | West Bay | Canterbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 212 | 17,480 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 67.9 | 107.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 3,120 | 162,100 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in West Bay peaked in the year to August 2020 (286 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (157). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 10%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 212 | 67.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 191 | 61.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 196 | 62.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 157 | 50.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 200 | 64.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 240 | 76.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 286 | 91.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 224 | 71.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 236 | 75.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 18 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (25% below) was well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 30 to 42.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 80 | 25.6 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 42 | 13.5 | 15.4 | +40% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 23 | 7.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 5.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 3.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other theft | 9 | 2.9 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 8 | 2.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 2.2 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Public order | 7 | 2.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 3 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than West Bay; the highest is Heron (138.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Beltinge (37.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill | 240 | 64.4 | -5% |
| Heron | 2,146 | 138.0 | +103% |
| Chestfield | 300 | 44.2 | -35% |
| Herne & Broomfield | 418 | 41.1 | -39% |
| Beltinge | 238 | 37.5 | -45% |
| Tankerton | 169 | 53.5 | -21% |
| Gorrell | 1,363 | 114.3 | +68% |
| Reculver | 250 | 56.4 | -17% |
The 10 locations below account for 70% of the crime recorded in West Bay over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Sussex Close” (39).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Sussex Close | 39 |
| On or near Westbrook Court Way | 18 |
| On or near Beaumont Street | 16 |
| On or near Claremont Street | 14 |
| On or near West Cliff Gardens | 14 |
| On or near Sunnyhill Road | 13 |
| On or near Brooklands Close | 10 |
| On or near Hampton Pier Avenue | 9 |
| On or near Essex Avenue | 8 |
| On or near Grafton Rise | 8 |
Of the 170 crimes in West Bay with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 42 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 87 | 51.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 43 | 25.3% | 35.3% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 5.9% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 8 | 4.7% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 4.1% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 1.8% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
West Bay has an estimated population of 3,120 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (29%, against 19%), more retired residents (32%, against 22%) and less social housing (10%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Bay average decile 3.5 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | West Bay | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 20.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 25.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Bay a safe place to live?
West Bay recorded 67.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,313th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in West Bay?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 80 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (42).
Is crime in West Bay going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Bay was up 11% on the year before: 212 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 191 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Bay?
About 3,120 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Bay?
West Bay is policed by Kent.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.