Inside ‘lawless’ UK seaside town where violent crime’s tripled

Violent crime is blighting the lives of people living in a picturesque seaside town – with the scale of the problem illustrated by shocking footage of a machete attack in which one man was left with a gaping head wound.

And residents of Herne Bay, Kent, have admitted they no longer feel safe – with the victim warning what happened to him was “just the tip of the iceberg”.

The horrific attack occurred outside a seafront bar on Central Parade in March, when a man wearing a mask and dressed in black leapt from a car and brandished a massive blade, terrifying onlookers.

Within seconds, he and two accomplices fled the scene, leaving his victim severely injured and covered in blood.

The disturbing clip, which quickly spread online, has intensified concerns that Herne Bay has become “lawless.”

Members of the public have expressed their fear and frustration, with one telling Kent Online: “Everyone knows you can commit crimes and the police are nowhere to be seen.”

Another claimed: “It’s definitely getting worse – I don’t feel safe anymore.”

The attack is far from an isolated incident. Violent crime in Herne Bay has almost tripled in recent years, with police reporting a dramatic increase in the severity of offences.

In Heron ward, which includes the town centre and seafront, 105 violent crimes were recorded in the last year. While this only represents a marginal increase from the previous year, the level of violence has escalated, contributing to the area’s ‘harm score’, which measures the seriousness of crimes, almost tripling.

The surge has left many locals and business owners concerned. Kent Police has stepped up patrols in the area in response to the escalating violence. 

The victim of the machete attack, who chose to remain anonymous, warned: “What happened to me was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Young people in this town are increasingly being influenced by gang culture from London. They’re carrying knives, covering their faces with masks, and acting like they can get away with anything. It’s all about ego.”

Police needed to address the root causes of this shift in behaviour, especially how certain music and videos glorify violence, he stressed.

He added: “It’s not just about stopping kids with knives – it’s about understanding why they’re doing it in the first place.”

The machete attack was just one of a number of violent incidents in Herne Bay this year.

Also in March, two men launched a vicious assault on a brother and sister in the High Street, punching and stamping on them nearly 100 times in 90 seconds.

The brutal assault left one victim with a fractured skull. Two men, Patrick Holmes and John Hazelgrove, were subsequently convicted and sentenced to four years behind bars.

Chief Inspector Paul Stoner, the district commander, spoke of a rising tide of violence during a council meeting, highlighting several key locations, including Central Parade, Mortimer Street, and the High Street, as repeat areas for violent offences.

He emphasised that while the number of crimes has remained steady, the nature of the violence has intensified, with attempted murders and grievous bodily harm (GBH) cases contributing to the area’s soaring harm score.

Councillor David Thomas said: “What we’re seeing is intimidation just from what these young people are wearing – face masks, hoodies, and so on. They almost feel they’re above the law.”

Crime statistics indicate that overall crime in the Canterbury district has dropped more in the last three months than in any other part of east Kent.

However, Chief Inspector Stoner sought to offer reassurance, saying:“We want to send a strong message, but also one of calmness and we are seeking support from councillors to reassure the residents that this is not something they need to worry about.”