Crime in Whitstable: statistics, rates and trends

2,757 crimes were recorded in Whitstable in the 12 months to July 2026, 88.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 861 reports (31% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Whitstable has the 496th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Whitstable was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,860 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (2,305). Over the whole period it fell 2%, 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 Whitstable 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 shoplifting.

The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+29%) and vehicle crime (+26%). The largest falls were in public order (-35%) and other crime (-32%).

Violence and sexual offences in Whitstable

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Whitstable recorded 861 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 31.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Whitstable

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Whitstable recorded 573 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 20.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Whitstable

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Whitstable recorded 454 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 16.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Whitstable

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Whitstable recorded 233 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Whitstable

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Whitstable recorded 165 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Whitstable

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Whitstable recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Whitstable

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Whitstable recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Whitstable

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Whitstable recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Whitstable

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Whitstable recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Whitstable

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Whitstable recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Whitstable

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Whitstable recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 64% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Whitstable

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Whitstable recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Whitstable

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Whitstable recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Whitstable

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Whitstable recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

5 areas within Whitstable, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Gorrell had the highest rate (115.7 per 1,000) and Chestfield the lowest (45.8). 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 Whitstable over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Whitstable 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.

Whitstable has an estimated population of 31,070. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Whitstable sits in decile 7.3, less 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 Whitstable. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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