Ottery St Mary Crime Rate

Crime statistics for Ottery St Mary, Devon, reveal a crime rate of 45.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, recorded between January 2025 and December 2025. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, indicating a comparatively safer environment. While the overall trend has remained stable, showing a slight increase of 4.5% year-on-year, it’s important to examine the specific types of crimes contributing to this figure and understand the context within the local area. This data aims to provide residents with a clear understanding of the crime landscape and offer practical advice for staying safe.

The crime landscape in Ottery St Mary is unfortunately dominated by violence and sexual offences, accounting for 51.3% of reported crimes. These are followed by anti-social behaviour (15.9%) and criminal damage and arson (8.7%). While other forms of theft, such as shoplifting and other theft, contribute to the overall crime rate, they are significantly lower than these top three categories. Burglary, vehicle crime, and robbery are comparatively less frequent, although they remain a concern for residents. The prevalence of violence and sexual offences suggests a need for focused community initiatives and support services to address the root causes of these crimes and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents.

Crime rates in Ottery St Mary have remained relatively stable over the period from January 2025 to December 2025, showing a slight increase of 4.5% year-on-year. Monthly data reveals fluctuations throughout the year, with a peak in reported incidents during May, June and December. For example, crime rates were significantly higher in June (5.9 per 1,000/month) compared to March (2.0 per 1,000/month). While this stability is encouraging, the year-on-year increase warrants continued monitoring and proactive community safety measures.

How To Keep Safe in Ottery St Mary

Given the prevalence of violence and sexual offences, it’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. Avoid walking alone at night where possible, particularly in poorly lit areas. Consider joining local neighbourhood watch schemes to foster a sense of community and vigilance. Secure your home and belongings diligently, ensuring doors and windows are locked. If you’ve been the victim of anti-social behaviour, report it promptly to the authorities. Finally, be mindful of your online activity and avoid sharing personal information that could make you vulnerable to crime.

Throughout the day and night, criminal activity in Ottery St Mary follows different patterns. During the morning (6am-12pm), theft is the most prevalent crime type, often related to commercial activity. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) sees a similar trend with theft, while the evening (6pm-12am) brings an increase in public order offences. However, the night (12am-6am) is when vehicle crime sees a relative increase, alongside a higher proportion of ‘other’ crimes, highlighting a potential vulnerability during those hours.

Comparing Ottery St Mary’s crime rate to surrounding areas, Tipton St John demonstrates a remarkable absence of reported crime (0.0 per 1,000), while Feniton has a rate of 16.1 per 1,000. West Hill, another nearby location, reports a rate of 31.6 per 1,000. These figures highlight that while Ottery St Mary is relatively safer than West Hill, there is considerable variation in crime rates across East Devon, underlining the importance of local safety measures.

Traditional CCTV systems often record incidents after they’ve occurred, providing footage for investigation but offering little in the way of prevention. If you’re looking for a higher level of protection in Ottery St Mary, consider a proactive approach. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, detects threats at your property boundary before they escalate. Using multi-camera intelligence and DVLA vehicle verification, scOS instantly recognises potential risks, like fake number plates, and learns your family’s routines to distinguish between genuine visitors and potential threats. The visible presence of scOS, with its strategically placed cameras and audible deterrents, can often be enough to deter burglars, causing them to move on within those crucial first 60 seconds – the timeframe when they decide whether to proceed. Reading crime statistics is one thing; proactively stopping threats at your property line is another.