Crime in Herne: statistics, rates and trends
809 crimes were recorded in Herne in the 12 months to July 2026, 56.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
809 crimes were recorded in Herne in the 12 months to July 2026, 56.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 16% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 371 reports (46% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Herne has the 1,039th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Herne | Canterbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 809 | 17,618 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 56.2 | 108.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +16% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 14,401 | 162,100 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Herne was highest in the year to July 2021 (932 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (700). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 | 809 | 56.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 700 | 48.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 813 | 56.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 844 | 58.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 920 | 63.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 932 | 64.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 748 | 51.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 792 | 55.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 912 | 63.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 67 |
| June 2026 | 73 |
| May 2026 | 78 |
| April 2026 | 72 |
| March 2026 | 70 |
| February 2026 | 57 |
| January 2026 | 68 |
| December 2025 | 62 |
| November 2025 | 54 |
| October 2025 | 70 |
| September 2025 | 71 |
| August 2025 | 67 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Herne 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. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+72%) and drugs (+37%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-27%) and public order (-21%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 371 | 25.8 | 0.75 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 151 | 10.5 | 0.68 | +72% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 81 | 5.6 | 0.83 | +33% |
| Other theft | 52 | 3.6 | 0.56 | -4% |
| Drugs | 37 | 2.6 | 0.79 | +37% |
| Other crime | 24 | 1.7 | 0.79 | -4% |
| Public order | 22 | 1.5 | 0.23 | -21% |
| Vehicle crime | 22 | 1.5 | 0.31 | -27% |
| Burglary | 19 | 1.3 | 0.37 | -14% |
| Shoplifting | 16 | 1.1 | 0.13 | +129% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.7 | 0.72 | +0% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 0.15 | +50% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.04 | -75% |
Violence and sexual offences in Herne
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Herne recorded 371 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 45.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Herne
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Herne recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 72% on the year before. It made up 18.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Herne
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Herne recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Herne
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Herne recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Herne
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Herne recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 37% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Herne
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Herne recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Herne
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Herne recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Herne
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Herne recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Herne
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Herne recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Herne
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Herne recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 129% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Herne
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Herne recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Herne
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Herne recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Herne
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Herne recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 75% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Herne, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Herne.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Herne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herne Bay | 2,530 | 102.8 | +83% |
| Whitstable | 2,757 | 88.7 | +58% |
| Canterbury | 9,687 | 167.3 | +198% |
| Aylesham | 487 | 75.4 | +34% |
| Margate | 7,827 | 122.7 | +118% |
| Faversham | 2,109 | 93.5 | +67% |
| Ramsgate | 5,792 | 135.4 | +141% |
| Broadstairs | 1,822 | 73.2 | +30% |
2 areas within Herne, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Greenhill had the highest rate (62.8 per 1,000) and Herne & Broomfield the lowest (40.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill | Neighbourhood | 3,728 | 234 | 62.8 |
| Herne & Broomfield | Neighbourhood | 10,163 | 414 | 40.7 |
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 Herne over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Herne Bay | 46 |
| On or near Mill Lane (North) | 31 |
| On or near Plaxton Way | 30 |
| On or near Bridle Way | 30 |
| On or near Thanet Way | 29 |
| On or near Robinson Road | 25 |
| On or near Parking Area | 25 |
| On or near Owls Hatch Road | 20 |
| On or near Bristol Close | 19 |
| On or near Rowland Drive | 17 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Herne 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 | 304 | 37.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 198 | 24.5% |
| Not recorded | 151 | 18.7% |
| Under investigation | 47 | 5.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 24 | 3.0% |
| Local resolution | 23 | 2.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 20 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 2.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 1.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Herne has an estimated population of 14,401. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Herne sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Herne |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.2% |
| Social rented homes | 7.2% |
| Private rented homes | 13.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 |
Is Herne a safe place to live?
Herne recorded 56.2 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 Herne?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 371 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (151).
Is crime in Herne going up or down?
Recorded crime in Herne was up 16% on the year before: 809 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 700 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Herne?
Herne 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 Herne. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.