Crime in Kendal: statistics, rates and trends
2,425 crimes were recorded in Kendal in the 12 months to August 2026, 80.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,136), public order (231) and criminal damage and arson (213) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 611th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Kendal | Westmorland and Furness | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,425 | 16,568 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 80.1 | 72.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 30,284 | 230,185 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Kendal peaked in the year to August 2020 (2,798 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (2,039). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,425 | 80.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,356 | 77.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,478 | 81.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,446 | 80.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,621 | 86.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,039 | 67.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,798 | 92.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,593 | 85.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,442 | 80.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 201 |
| July 2026 | 276 |
| June 2026 | 195 |
| May 2026 | 217 |
| April 2026 | 239 |
| March 2026 | 173 |
| February 2026 | 167 |
| January 2026 | 186 |
| December 2025 | 204 |
| November 2025 | 199 |
| October 2025 | 213 |
| September 2025 | 155 |
Compared with England and Wales, Kendal recorded notably more drugs (31% above the national rate) and bicycle theft (28% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (67% below) and vehicle crime (62% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 47 to 57 and bicycle theft rose from 27 to 32, while burglary fell from 67 to 50.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,136 | 37.5 | 34.2 | +7% |
| Public order | 231 | 7.6 | 6.7 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 213 | 7.0 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 204 | 6.7 | 8.5 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 152 | 5.0 | 15.4 | -13% |
| Drugs | 130 | 4.3 | 3.3 | +18% |
| Other theft | 127 | 4.2 | 6.4 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 57 | 1.9 | 5.0 | +21% |
| Burglary | 50 | 1.7 | 3.6 | -25% |
| Other crime | 49 | 1.6 | 2.1 | -11% |
| Bicycle theft | 32 | 1.1 | 0.8 | +19% |
| Possession of weapons | 24 | 0.8 | 1.0 | -14% |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 8 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Kendal; the highest is Morecambe (140.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Bolton-le-Sands (37.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kendal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windermere | 373 | 65.9 | -18% |
| Carnforth | 396 | 71.8 | -10% |
| Bolton-le-Sands | 266 | 37.0 | -54% |
| Ulverston | 756 | 72.2 | -10% |
| Morecambe | 4,511 | 140.9 | +76% |
| Lancaster | 5,614 | 116.4 | +45% |
| Heysham | 1,189 | 80.1 | 0% |
| Dalton-in-Furness | 560 | 76.5 | -4% |
Of the 5 areas within Kendal, Kendal Strickland and Fell had the highest crime rate (132.1 per 1,000) and Kendal Castle the lowest (22.9), 6 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kendal Strickland and Fell | Neighbourhood | 6,714 | 887 | 132.1 |
| Kendal Nether | Neighbourhood | 6,472 | 591 | 91.3 |
| Kendal Highgate | Neighbourhood | 5,950 | 482 | 81.0 |
| Kendal South | Neighbourhood | 7,509 | 439 | 58.5 |
| Kendal Castle | Neighbourhood | 5,812 | 133 | 22.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 32% of the crime recorded in Kendal over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (197).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 197 |
| On or near Branthwaite Brow | 93 |
| On or near Aspen Close | 80 |
| On or near Hunters Croft | 70 |
| On or near Old Shambles | 69 |
| On or near Police Station | 68 |
| On or near Kirkland | 62 |
| On or near Stricklandgate | 62 |
| On or near Kent Place | 44 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 37 |
Of the 2,273 crimes in Kendal with a recorded outcome, 19% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 152 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 912 | 40.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 431 | 19.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 367 | 16.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 159 | 7.0% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 135 | 5.9% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 94 | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 59 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 54 | 2.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 20 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 15 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Kendal has an estimated population of 30,284 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%), an older population (25%, against 19%) and more retired residents (28%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Kendal average decile 7.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Kendal | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 59.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Kendal a safe place to live?
Kendal recorded 80.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 611th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and bicycle theft.
What is the most common crime in Kendal?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,136 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by public order (231).
Is crime in Kendal going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kendal was up 3% on the year before: 2,425 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,356 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Kendal?
About 30,284 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Kendal?
Kendal is policed by Cumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.