Crime in Hythe: statistics, rates and trends
663 crimes were recorded in Hythe in the 12 months to August 2026, 48.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (237), anti-social behaviour (119) and criminal damage and arson (70) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,177th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Hythe | Folkestone and Hythe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 663 | 9,645 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.5 | 85.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 13,677 | 112,411 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Hythe of any year here (663 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 19%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 663 | 48.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 688 | 50.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 756 | 55.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 787 | 57.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 808 | 59.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,032 | 75.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 923 | 67.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 799 | 58.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 818 | 59.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 79 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (74% below) and vehicle crime (71% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 87 to 119, while violence and sexual offences fell from 348 to 237 and public order fell from 45 to 35.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 237 | 17.3 | 34.2 | -32% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 119 | 8.7 | 15.4 | +37% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 70 | 5.1 | 6.7 | +13% |
| Other theft | 58 | 4.2 | 6.4 | -3% |
| Public order | 35 | 2.6 | 6.7 | -22% |
| Shoplifting | 30 | 2.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 29 | 2.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 23 | 1.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 1.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 18 | 1.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Hythe; the highest is Canterbury (165.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Littlestone-on-Sea (36.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hythe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone | 6,682 | 123.7 | +155% |
| Hawkinge | 446 | 51.3 | +6% |
| Littlestone-on-Sea | 209 | 36.9 | -24% |
| Dover | 5,526 | 150.1 | +210% |
| Ashford (Ashford) | 7,962 | 95.7 | +97% |
| Whitfield (Dover) | 453 | 68.9 | +42% |
| Aylesham | 481 | 74.4 | +54% |
| Canterbury | 9,598 | 165.8 | +242% |
Of the 2 areas within Hythe, Hythe had the highest crime rate (64.7 per 1,000) and Hythe Rural the lowest (34.1).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hythe | Neighbourhood | 10,216 | 661 | 64.7 |
| Hythe Rural | Neighbourhood | 6,802 | 232 | 34.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Hythe over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (53).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 53 |
| On or near Parking Area | 38 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 19 |
| On or near Alexandra Court | 17 |
| On or near St George'S Place | 17 |
| On or near Portland Road | 16 |
| On or near Sutherland Close | 15 |
| On or near Seabrook Grove | 14 |
| On or near Twiss Grove | 14 |
| On or near Battery Point | 13 |
Of the 544 crimes in Hythe with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 119 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 191 | 35.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 187 | 34.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 53 | 9.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 33 | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 3.9% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 21 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 3.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Hythe has an estimated population of 13,677 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (36%, against 19%), more retired residents (38%, against 22%) and fewer students (4.0%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Hythe average decile 6.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Hythe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 35.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 46.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 38.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Hythe a safe place to live?
Hythe recorded 48.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,177th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Hythe?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 237 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (119).
Is crime in Hythe going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hythe was down 4% on the year before: 663 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 688 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Hythe?
About 13,677 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 36% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Hythe?
Hythe 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.