Crime in Hythe: statistics, rates and trends
630 crimes were recorded in Hythe in the 12 months to July 2026, 46.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
630 crimes were recorded in Hythe in the 12 months to July 2026, 46.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 227 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Hythe has the 1,220th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Hythe | Folkestone and Hythe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 630 | 9,548 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 46.1 | 84.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -15% | +0% | -1% |
| Population | 13,677 | 112,411 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Hythe was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,009 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (630). Over the whole period it fell 22%, 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 | 630 | 46.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 741 | 54.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 731 | 53.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 788 | 57.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 844 | 61.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,009 | 73.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 906 | 66.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 814 | 59.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 804 | 58.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 62 |
| June 2026 | 59 |
| May 2026 | 63 |
| April 2026 | 57 |
| March 2026 | 63 |
| February 2026 | 48 |
| January 2026 | 38 |
| December 2025 | 57 |
| November 2025 | 54 |
| October 2025 | 48 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
| August 2025 | 46 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Hythe 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 falls were in violence and sexual offences (-38%) and public order (-33%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 227 | 16.6 | 0.48 | -38% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 111 | 8.1 | 0.53 | +7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 69 | 5.0 | 0.74 | -5% |
| Other theft | 55 | 4.0 | 0.63 | -11% |
| Public order | 32 | 2.3 | 0.35 | -33% |
| Drugs | 28 | 2.0 | 0.63 | +133% |
| Shoplifting | 27 | 2.0 | 0.24 | +93% |
| Other crime | 23 | 1.7 | 0.80 | +28% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 1.3 | 0.27 | +12% |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.2 | 0.35 | -15% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.7 | 0.68 | +80% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.5 | 0.30 | +250% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 0.27 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.18 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Hythe
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Hythe recorded 227 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 36.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Hythe
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Hythe recorded 111 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 17.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Hythe
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Hythe recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Hythe
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Hythe recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Hythe
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Hythe recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Hythe
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Hythe recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 133% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Hythe
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Hythe recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 93% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Hythe
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Hythe recorded 23 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 up 28% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Hythe
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Hythe recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Hythe
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Hythe recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Hythe
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Hythe recorded 9 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 up 80% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Hythe
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Hythe recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 250% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Hythe
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Hythe recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Hythe
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Hythe recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Hythe, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Hythe.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hythe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone | 6,634 | 122.8 | +167% |
| Hawkinge | 448 | 51.6 | +12% |
| Littlestone-on-Sea | 225 | 39.7 | -14% |
| Dover | 5,535 | 150.3 | +226% |
| Ashford (Ashford) | 7,882 | 94.8 | +106% |
| Whitfield (Dover) | 448 | 68.2 | +48% |
| Aylesham | 487 | 75.4 | +64% |
| Canterbury | 9,687 | 167.3 | +263% |
2 areas within Hythe, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Hythe had the highest rate (62.1 per 1,000) and Hythe Rural the lowest (31.8). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hythe | Neighbourhood | 10,216 | 634 | 62.1 |
| Hythe Rural | Neighbourhood | 6,802 | 216 | 31.8 |
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 Hythe over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 53 |
| On or near Parking Area | 33 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 18 |
| On or near Sutherland Close | 16 |
| On or near Twiss Grove | 16 |
| On or near Alexandra Court | 15 |
| On or near Corunna Close | 15 |
| On or near St George'S Place | 15 |
| On or near Battery Point | 14 |
| On or near Seabrook Grove | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Hythe 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 | 185 | 29.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 182 | 28.9% |
| Not recorded | 111 | 17.6% |
| Under investigation | 45 | 7.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 25 | 4.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 24 | 3.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 24 | 3.8% |
| Local resolution | 17 | 2.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.8% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Hythe has an estimated population of 13,677. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Hythe sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Hythe |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 51.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 35.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.7% |
| Social rented homes | 11.0% |
| Private rented homes | 13.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 |
Is Hythe a safe place to live?
Hythe recorded 46.1 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 Hythe?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 227 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (111).
Is crime in Hythe going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hythe was down 15% on the year before: 630 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 741 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Hythe?
Hythe 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 Hythe. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.