Exmouth Crime Rate March 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Exmouth's crime picture in March 2024, accounting for 45.1% of all reported crimes. With a crime rate of 5.7 per 1,000 residents, Exmouth is 26.0% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This stark contrast with national trends is particularly evident in violent crime, where Exmouth’s rate of 2.6 per 1,000 is 3% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. The area’s crime profile reflects a unique combination of local factors, including the seasonal transition to spring and the lengthening evenings that may contribute to increased social interactions in public spaces. Anti-social behaviour follows closely, making up 18.6% of reported crimes, while criminal damage and arson account for 10.3%. These figures suggest a community grappling with persistent issues of disorder and property damage, though the overall crime rate remains significantly lower than the UK average. The seasonal context of March—marked by the end of British Summer Time and a shift towards warmer weather—may play a role in shaping crime patterns, with increased foot traffic in local areas influencing both violent and anti-social incidents. Property crimes such as shoplifting and vehicle crime remain well below national averages, with shoplifting at 67% below the UK rate and vehicle crime at 100% below. This could indicate effective local measures or a lower retail density compared to other UK areas, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections.

March 2024 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories. Drugs-related offences surged by 300%, jumping from 2 to 8 incidents, while burglary also rose sharply by 300% (1 to 4 cases). Bicycle theft increased by 200%, from 1 to 3 incidents, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in local security measures or increased cycling activity. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 80% (from 5 to 1), and other theft fell by 53.8% (13 to 6), suggesting possible improvements in vehicle security or a temporary reduction in opportunistic theft. The mix of crime types also shifted slightly, with violent crime remaining the dominant category (45.1% of total) but property crimes accounting for a smaller share (23.5%) compared to the UK average. This contrast is particularly striking in categories like shoplifting, where Exmouth’s rate is 67% below the UK average, and public order offences, which are 26% below the national figure. These disparities may reflect Exmouth’s unique character as a coastal town with a relatively low density of retail outlets and a strong community focus. Residents may find the 300% increase in drugs-related offences particularly concerning, as it suggests a potential need for targeted interventions or increased awareness of local drug activity patterns.

Exmouth’s crime rate in March 2024 (5.7 per 1,000) represents a 26.8% increase from the previous month’s rate of 4.5 per 1,000, indicating a notable upward trend over the short term. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 7 crimes per day in March, a figure that, while seemingly modest, translates to one reported crime for every 175 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate—1-in-175—places Exmouth in a relatively safer position compared to many UK areas, though the recent rise in violent crime and drugs-related offences complicates this picture. The population context is crucial here: with 35,632 residents, the absolute number of crimes (204) may appear small, but the proportional increase from February to March suggests a need for vigilance. When compared to the UK average, Exmouth’s crime rate remains 26.0% lower, a gap that is most pronounced in property crimes (shoplifting, vehicle crime, and other theft are all significantly below national rates). However, the sharp rise in drugs-related offences and burglary raises questions about whether this trend is temporary or indicative of a broader shift. The 300% increase in burglary, for instance, may be influenced by seasonal factors such as warmer weather encouraging more outdoor activity or changes in local demographics, though these are speculative without additional data.