East Devon Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

December 2025 saw East Devon's overall crime rate rise slightly to 3.8 per 1,000 residents, a 6.4% increase from 3.6 in November. This places the area 45.7% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000, a consistent trend reflecting East Devon's lower-than-average crime profile. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, comprising 52.6% of all reported incidents. This category is 22% below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), likely influenced by East Devon's mix of rural and coastal communities where community cohesion may temper violent incidents. Criminal damage and arson (8.8% of total crimes) and other theft (8.6%) followed as the next most common categories, both significantly below UK averages. December's seasonal dynamics—dark evenings, holiday shopping, and empty homes during the festive period—may partly explain the slight upward trend, though the overall rate remains well below national benchmarks. The area's lower property crime rates compared to the UK (property crimes account for only 26.4% of total crimes) suggest a broader pattern of community-driven crime prevention, linked to local initiatives or demographic factors such as lower population density. However, the rise in drug-related crimes and burglaries during the month highlights areas requiring closer attention, particularly as seasonal factors like increased alcohol consumption and social gatherings could contribute to these trends.

December 2025 revealed notable shifts in East Devon's crime profile, with drugs-related offences surging by 69.2% (13 to 22) and burglaries increasing by 46.2% (13 to 19). These rises, though still below UK averages, may reflect seasonal patterns such as increased social mixing during the festive period or targeted activity in areas with higher transient populations. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 41.3% (75 to 44), potentially linked to heightened community vigilance during the holiday season or reduced foot traffic in public spaces. Vehicle crime also dropped by 39.1% (23 to 14), due to decreased commercial activity or improved vehicle security measures. The area's violent crime rate (2.0 per 1,000) remains 22% below the UK average, a stark contrast to categories like possession of weapons (0.1 per 1,000), which is 43% above the UK average (0.1 per 1,000). This anomaly underscores the need for targeted interventions in weapon-related incidents, which, while low in absolute terms, exceed national norms. Residents may find the 41.3% decrease in anti-social behaviour particularly noteworthy, as it suggests local efforts—such as community policing or holiday event management—may be yielding measurable results.

East Devon's crime rate in December 2025 (3.8 per 1,000) represents a 6.4% increase from November's 3.6 per 1,000, though it remains significantly below the UK average. This upward shift, while modest, translates to roughly 20 crimes per day across the district's population of 158,239—a daily figure that highlights the persistent presence of crime despite the area's overall safety. On a monthly basis, one reported crime occurred for every 262 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. Comparing East Devon to the UK, its crime profile is markedly different: while violent crime rates are 22% below the national average, categories like drug offences (0.1 per 1,000) and burglary (0.1 per 1,000) remain within UK norms. The area's lower property crime rates—only 26.4% of total crimes compared to the UK's higher proportion—suggest a unique demographic or geographic factor, such as lower housing density or stronger community policing. These comparisons underscore East Devon's distinct position within the UK's crime profile, where targeted interventions in specific categories (like drug-related crimes) could further align local trends with national benchmarks.