East Devon Crime Rate March 2023 | Monthly Statistics

East Devon’s crime profile in March 2023 reflects a consistently low overall rate of 2.9 per 1,000 residents, a figure 61.8% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area’s rural character, where crime is less concentrated than in urban centres. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 47.4% of all incidents, a share that, while high for the area, remains significantly lower than the UK average. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage followed as the next most common categories, each at least 50% below their respective UK averages. The seasonal context of March—transitioning to spring, with longer evenings—may have contributed to the prominence of violent crimes, though the area’s limited nightlife and dispersed population likely mitigate such risks. Property crimes, including vehicle crime and shoplifting, were lower than violent offences, a pattern consistent with rural areas where commercial activity is less concentrated. The UK average for shoplifting, at 0.5 per 1,000, was 80% higher than East Devon’s rate, highlighting the area’s minimal retail presence. These figures suggest that East Devon’s crime profile is shaped by its geography and demographics, with violent crimes arising from social interactions rather than economic or property-related factors. The relatively low crime rate, combined with the area’s seasonal rhythms, indicates a stable environment where crime is less frequent but not absent.

March 2023 saw a notable shift in the crime mix, with violent crimes accounting for 47.4% of all incidents—significantly higher than property crimes. This imbalance, while consistent with the area’s low population density and limited nightlife, contrasts with UK averages where property crimes often dominate. Violence and sexual offences in East Devon stood at 1.4 per 1,000, 49% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, illustrating a persistent gap in crime patterns between rural and urban areas. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.5 per 1,000, was 52% below the UK average, a figure that may reflect the area’s community-oriented policing and lower levels of transient populations. Meanwhile, shoplifting—0.1 per 1,000—was 80% below the UK average, a statistic that aligns with the limited retail presence in rural East Devon compared to city centres. Residents might find the 1-in-340 monthly exposure rate particularly relevant, offering a tangible measure of local risk in comparison to national benchmarks.

East Devon's March 2023 crime rate of 2.9 per 1,000 residents remains significantly lower than the UK average, a trend consistent with the area’s character as a largely rural district with limited urban density. Daily crime statistics show 15 reported incidents per day, a figure that, while routine for the area, contrasts sharply with the UK’s higher overall rate. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 340 residents, a monthly exposure rate that suggests a relatively low risk of encountering crime compared to more densely populated regions. This statistic, when contextualised against East Devon’s population of 158,239, highlights the area’s lower vulnerability to crime. The daily crime count, while providing a snapshot of activity, does not reflect a sudden spike or decline, reinforcing the stability of the local crime profile. These figures, combined with the area’s geography, suggest that crime in East Devon is more dispersed and less concentrated than in urban centres, where higher population density often correlates with increased crime rates.