Crime in Margate: statistics, rates and trends

7,827 crimes were recorded in Margate in the 12 months to July 2026, 122.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,104 reports (40% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Margate has the 166th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Margate was highest in the year to July 2018 (11,741 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (7,827). Over the whole period it fell 33%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Margate 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. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in robbery (+60%) and bicycle theft (+13%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-27%) and other crime (-25%).

Violence and sexual offences in Margate

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Margate recorded 3,104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (48.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 39.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Margate

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Margate recorded 1,550 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 19.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Margate

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Margate recorded 698 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Margate

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Margate recorded 526 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Margate

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Margate recorded 453 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Margate

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Margate recorded 362 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Margate

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Margate recorded 336 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Margate

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Margate recorded 222 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Margate

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Margate recorded 185 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Margate

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Margate recorded 149 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Margate

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Margate recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Margate

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Margate recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Margate

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Margate recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Margate

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Margate recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Margate, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Margate.

10 areas within Margate, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Margate Central had the highest rate (388.9 per 1,000) and Birchington North the lowest (32.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Margate over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Margate 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.

Margate has an estimated population of 63,799. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Margate sits in decile 3.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Margate. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.