Crime and Safety in Herne Bay, Kent
Last updated: 07 Jun 2026
Herne Bay is among the top 5 most dangerous medium-sized towns in Kent, and is the 33rd most dangerous overall out of Kent's 331 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Herne Bay in 2026 is 83 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Kent's overall crime rate, coming in 19% higher than the Kent rate of 69 per 1,000 daytime population. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Herne Bay is the 56th most dangerous medium-sized town, and the 861st most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In January 2026, Herne Bay was the worst medium-sized town in Kent for vehicle crime, with 15 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.60 per 1,000 daytime population. April 2026 was also a bad month for Herne Bay residents, when it was Kent's most dangerous medium-sized town for burglary, recording 11 crimes at a rate of 0.44 per 1,000 daytime population.
The most common crimes in Herne Bay are violence and sexual offences, with 921 offences during 2026, giving a crime rate of 37. This is the same as 2025's figure of 921 offences and a difference of 0.04 from 2025's crime rate of 37. Herne Bay's least common crime is theft from the person, with 6 offences recorded in 2026, an increase of 20% from 2025's figure of 5 crimes.
Herne Bay 2026 Crime Scorecard
Top 5 Most Dangerous
Medium-Sized Towns, Kent
34% higher, regional crime rate
South East
15% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
Local Crime in Context
As of April 2026, the crime rate in Herne Bay is 34% higher than the South East and 15% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
Herne Bay Crime Rate Over Time
| Herne Bay | |
| South East | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Herne Bay Crime Map
Incidents mapped in Herne Bay represent the time frame between January 2016 and April 2026. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Use Crime Map
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualise the data you need.
See How Herne Bay Compares
You can compare Herne Bay's crime statistics against any other town, village, or city from across the country. Search for a location's name below to see how they stack up.
Introduction to Herne Bay's crime statistics
This crime profile provides a detailed view of crime and safety around Herne Bay up to April 2026, the most recent data release available. The crime figures and statistics have been calculated across each of Herne Bay's 639 postcodes using three area sizes for comparison:
- Within a Five-Minute Walk
- Within a Ten-Minute Walk
- Within a Fifteen-Minute Walk
Individual crime risk scores and index figures are for the 12-month period ending April 2026 unless otherwise stated.
CrimeRate Insights
Looking into a specific address in Herne Bay? CrimeRate Insights reports convert raw numbers into practical insight for any location, from single addresses and postcodes, up to major towns and cities.
Crime rates don’t happen by themselves; they follow people and patterns. Where crowds gather - near pubs and late-night venues, around the station, by supermarkets and forecourts - incidents naturally concentrate.
That doesn’t mean an area is "bad"; it usually means footfall is higher.
Your report explores these factors in a calm, non-judgemental way, putting the numbers in context and helping you spot what’s typical for places like this.
Crime Risk Scores
Herne Bay • 12 Months Ending April 2026
The typical five-minute walk within Herne Bay has a crime risk score of 504. This is based on analysis of 639 nearby areas within Herne Bay, with "most" referring to roughly two thirds of the nearby locations.
Crime risk scores are on a scale of 1 to 1,000 and consider the severity of the crimes involved, as determined by sentencing guidelines. A score of 1 represents the lowest risk, and 1,000 the highest risk. This approach ensures that - unlike overall crime rate figures - bicycle theft is not given the same importance in Herne Bay's risk scores as, for example, robbery, or violence & sexual offences.
Within a five-minute walk of the typical location in Herne Bay, crime risk scores are typically around 504, while in Kent they are average 475.
Areas within a ten-minute walk typically see crime risk scores of 572 (475 for Kent), and scores within a fifteen-minute walk are most often around 602 (Kent 489).
Trends in Crime Risk
Herne Bay
Calculated via Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess, the Seasonality Adjusted line represents the original data with seasonality subtracted, and the Trend line has been plotted unadjusted. Overall trend direction has been identified using the Mann-Kendall trend test, and rate calculated from the slope of the best-fit line identified from linear regression.
The 10-year trend indicates a decrease of 3.0% in Herne Bay's crime risk score. This is potentially a strong signal of how the crime risk is evolving. Cross-referencing with major cultural events and Covid's impact during this time is advised.
Looking at the previous five years, the trend in Herne Bay's crime risk score is down by 15%. While potentially a good indicator of the overall risk trend, analysis may offer further insight when combined with the checks mentioned above.
Over the last year, Herne Bay's crime risk score has shown a downward trend of approximately 1.3%, indicating that the risk profile is going down. This is an extremely short time period for crime trend analysis, and caution should be exercised when interpreting this figure.
Crime Rates and Indexes
Herne Bay
The CrimeRate Index shows how crime rates compare against the national average.
1.0 equals the average
2.0 is double
3.0 triple
0.5 is half and
0.25 a quarter.
Highest Crime Rates
Herne Bay • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Excluding other crime and other theft because their geographic location is often not relevant, anti-social behaviour as its definition is too wide, and bicycle theft for its specificity.
Shoplifting offences have a crime rate of 13 reports per 1,000 people in Herne Bay, which is 1.78 times the national average. This figure is calculated from 318 crime reports logged by Kent Police during the 12-month period ending April 2026.
For the same period, Kent Police recorded 240 reports of Criminal Damage and Arson in Herne Bay, resulting in a crime rate of 9.60 reports per 1,000, and a CrimeRate Index of 1.53.
The crime rate for Possession of Weapons is 1.52 times the national average at 1.20 reports per 1,000. This is from 30 crime reports reported to Kent Police.
Most Significant 3-Year Increases in Crime Types
Herne Bay
Excluding other crime and other theft, anti-social behaviour, and bicycle theft, and calculated with the same STL method described in Trends in Crime Risk, using CrimeRate Index figures to identify crime types that are trending above or below the national average, and the analysis timeframe limited to the last three years.
Robbery offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.20 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Robbery CrimeRate Index was 0.44 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 173% over this timeframe.
Burglary offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.83 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Burglary CrimeRate Index was 0.53 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 245% over this timeframe.
Possession of Weapons offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.71 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Possession of Weapons CrimeRate Index was 1.71 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 0% over this timeframe.
Most Significant 3-Year Decreases in Crime Types
Herne Bay
Calculated with the same methodology as the largest increases section above.
Public Order offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.58 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Public Order CrimeRate Index was 0.77 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 25% over this timeframe.
Theft From the Person offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.33 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Theft From the Person CrimeRate Index was 0.62 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 47% over this timeframe.
Violence and Sexual Offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.36 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Violence and Sexual Offences CrimeRate Index was 1.35 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 0.74% over this timeframe.
Crime Type Breakdown & Heat Map
Herne Bay • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Size and colour reflect the CrimeRate Index figures for each type of crime.
Herne Bay | Kent | South East | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Type | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 553 | 22.12 | 1.57 | 33,285 | 15.94 | 1.13 | 115,500 | 10.87 | 0.77 |
| Bicycle Theft | 17 | 0.68 | 1.39 | 1,031 | 0.49 | 0.67 | 7,315 | 0.68 | 0.93 |
| Burglary | 71 | 2.84 | 0.91 | 4,454 | 2.13 | 0.68 | 23,535 | 2.23 | 0.71 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 240 | 9.60 | 1.53 | 16,208 | 7.75 | 1.23 | 58,501 | 5.50 | 0.88 |
| Drugs | 94 | 3.76 | 1.22 | 6,414 | 3.08 | 1.00 | 25,203 | 2.37 | 0.77 |
| Other Crime | 61 | 2.44 | 1.32 | 4,961 | 2.39 | 1.29 | 17,151 | 1.61 | 0.87 |
| Other Theft | 131 | 5.24 | 0.92 | 11,589 | 5.56 | 0.98 | 51,336 | 4.84 | 0.85 |
| Possession of Weapons | 30 | 1.20 | 1.52 | 1,853 | 0.87 | 1.02 | 8,736 | 0.81 | 0.95 |
| Public Order | 70 | 2.80 | 0.48 | 7,424 | 3.57 | 0.62 | 54,745 | 5.15 | 0.89 |
| Robbery | 26 | 1.04 | 1.06 | 1,479 | 0.73 | 0.62 | 7,588 | 0.72 | 0.61 |
| Shoplifting | 318 | 12.72 | 1.78 | 16,401 | 7.86 | 1.10 | 72,983 | 6.88 | 0.96 |
| Theft From the Person | 6 | 0.24 | 0.39 | 763 | 0.37 | 0.24 | 4,668 | 0.45 | 0.29 |
| Vehicle Crime | 79 | 3.16 | 0.73 | 7,243 | 3.48 | 0.81 | 34,099 | 3.22 | 0.75 |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 921 | 36.80 | 1.21 | 64,584 | 30.92 | 1.02 | 286,815 | 26.98 | 0.89 |
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Total Crime by Year
Herne Bay | Kent | South East | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| 2026 | 2,064 | 82.52 | 1.17 | 144,404 | 69.20 | 0.96 | 652,675 | 61.44 | 0.85 |
| 2025 | 2,058 | 82.89 | 1.14 | 153,480 | 74.18 | 1.00 | 670,274 | 63.35 | 0.86 |
| 2024 | 2,233 | 90.26 | 1.23 | 162,626 | 79.53 | 1.05 | 690,903 | 65.86 | 0.87 |
| 2023 | 2,212 | 89.85 | 1.16 | 167,520 | 82.95 | 1.05 | 713,547 | 68.83 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 2,079 | 83.63 | 1.12 | 176,002 | 88.22 | 1.15 | 704,444 | 68.58 | 0.89 |
| 2021 | 2,148 | 85.92 | 1.29 | 161,638 | 81.59 | 1.19 | 625,484 | 61.36 | 0.89 |
| 2020 | 2,137 | 85.01 | 1.17 | 176,505 | 89.63 | 1.21 | 669,219 | 65.97 | 0.89 |
| 2019 | 2,363 | 93.90 | 1.26 | 185,038 | 94.50 | 1.24 | 666,505 | 65.82 | 0.86 |
| 2018 | 2,347 | 92.94 | 1.34 | 180,609 | 92.70 | 1.30 | 644,142 | 63.85 | 0.90 |
| 2017 | 1,639 | 65.21 | 1.04 | 132,537 | 68.41 | 1.07 | 552,696 | 55.04 | 0.86 |
| 2016 | 484 | 19.32 | 1.04 | 37,766 | 19.54 | 1.02 | 160,273 | 15.99 | 0.84 |
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Herne Bay Compared to Nearby Medium-Sized Towns
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| Medium-Sized Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 4,484 | 117.09 | 42% more dangerous |
| Ramsgate | 4,910 | 107.81 | 31% more dangerous |
| Folkestone | 5,076 | 94.12 | 14% more dangerous |
| Herne Bay | 2,064 | 82.52 | - |
| Gravesend | 4,997 | 81.09 | 1.7% safer |
| Northfleet | 2,556 | 78.60 | 4.8% safer |
| Sittingbourne | 4,423 | 75.17 | 9% safer |
| Dartford | 4,920 | 72.68 | 12% safer |
| Whitstable | 2,283 | 70.17 | 15% safer |
| Tonbridge | 2,311 | 60.58 | 27% safer |
| Broadstairs and St. Peters | 1,517 | 57.95 | 30% safer |
Comparing Herne Bay to the UK's Major Cities
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| City Name | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 79.55 | 3.6% safer |
| Herne Bay | 82.52 | - |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 82.69 | 0.21% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 84.09 | 1.9% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.87 | 19% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 104.64 | 27% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 105.05 | 27% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 106.48 | 29% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 107.10 | 30% more dangerous |
| Nottingham | 107.74 | 31% more dangerous |
| Westminster | 125.00 | 51% more dangerous |
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Offences In and Around Herne Bay's Parks & Leisure Spaces
Limited to spaces in Herne Bay that are named and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries in the 12 months to Apr 2026.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Downs | 19 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 12 |
| Reculver Country Park | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 9 | 3 |
| Memorial Park | 31 | 10 | 2 | - | 36 | 27 |
| Lane End Garden | 13 | 3 | - | - | 3 | 0 |
| Tower Gardens | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 23 |
| Waltrop Gardens | 10 | 2 | 2 | - | 31 | 19 |
| Herne Bay Hockey Club | 2 | 2 | - | - | 7 | 11 |
| Hampton Coastal Park | 5 | 3 | - | - | 6 | 11 |
Recent Crimes in Herne Bay
The 20 most recent crime reports in Herne Bay.
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Other crime | On or near Parking Area | |
| April 2026 | Other theft | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Station Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Queens Gardens | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Beaumont Street | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Supermarket |
Methodology & Data Sources
Herne Bay Crime Report
Data Sources & Processing
Every month, CrimeRate processes crime reports from data.police.uk, the UK's official provider of open crime report data. Each crime report includes anonymised coordinates, most often "snapped" to the middle of the nearest street, or to the nearest major landmark. The reports also include the month and year the crime was reported, as well as the type of crime.
Data releases on data.police.uk happen once a month, with a two-month delay. This means that, for example, crimes reported in Herne Bay during July 2026 will typically become available in September 2026. The latest release is for Apr 2026 and was released in Jun 2026. To provide current and historical crime statistics, CrimeRate processed 61,669,232 crime reports for the latest release.
Herne Bay Data Points
For Herne Bay, CrimeRate uses the geographic boundaries provided by The Office for National Statistics in the December 2022 release of their Built Up Areas dataset, using the BUA22CD column value E63005160.
Due to the 2021 Census being conducted during a UK-wide Coronavirus lockdown, the daytime population figures released so far cannot be relied on for purposes such as comparing crime rates. Instead, CrimeRate uses Herne Bay's daytime - or "workday" - population of 18,238 from the ONS 2011 Census for calculations throughout the site.
All geographic boundaries use the full resolution - extent of the realm versions where provided to avoid missing crime reports near coastlines and rivers - the banks of the Thames in particular - that would otherwise not be included when using the clipped to the coastline datasets.
Calculating Crime Rates
CrimeRate locates the UK region, county, and town/city/village locality for each crime report, and calculates the crime rate by taking the sum of all crime reports, dividing it by the locality's daytime / "workday" population, and multiplying the result by 1,000 to get the crime rate per 1,000.
Crime Risk Score Calculations
CrimeRate calculates crime counts for local, nearby, and wider areas for every postcode in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The postcodes locations are deduplicated by a process that ensures distinct points are approximately 50 metres apart. This process removes the bias that would otherwise come from counting the same crimes several times in heavily populated areas.
Using a custom algorithm developed in-house, CrimeRate applies a crime severity weighting to each area's crime counts, based on the type of crime reported. This increases or decreases the crime count, or zeroes it out entirely, depending on the crime type. A separate crime severity rate is then calculated, standardised, and scaled to fit the crime risk score range of 1 to 1,000, with 1 being the lowest score, and 1,000 the highest.
Crime risk scores undergo further analysis per town, city, and village plus other areas including police forces and neighbourhoods. CrimeRate uses percentiles to work out the most common range of crime risk scores in each locality. This includes identifying the high and low bounds where approximately 68% of scores fall, and finding the median (50th percentile) for easy reference.
The crime types with a weight of zero are: Anti-Social Behaviour; Bicycle Theft; Other Crime; Other Theft; and Shoplifting. The highest weights to are assigned to Violence & Sexual Offences, and the lowest to Vehicle Crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crime in Herne Bay