Ottery St Mary Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Ottery St Mary, 2 crimes were reported in November 2023 — a rate 73.3% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This translates to a daily risk of roughly 0 crimes per resident, with 1 reported crime occurring for every 506 residents over the course of the month. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences (33.3% of all crimes), followed by drugs (25.0%) and anti-social behaviour (16.7%). These figures sit in stark contrast to national trends: violence and sexual offences in Ottery were 73% below the UK average, while drug-related crimes were 150% above. Seasonal factors may partly explain these patterns. November’s darker evenings and Bonfire Night events could have influenced anti-social behaviour and public disorder, while Black Friday shopping may have contributed to retail-focused crimes. However, the overall low rate suggests strong community resilience and effective local policing. The town’s compact built-up area, with limited commercial zones and a relatively stable population, likely contributes to its consistently low crime profile compared to larger urban centres. This per-capita perspective shows that residents face minimal daily risk, with most crimes being isolated incidents rather than systemic issues.

November saw significant shifts in crime patterns compared to October. Anti-social behaviour increased by 100% (from 1 to 2 incidents), drugs rose by 100% (from 0 to 3), and 'other crime' also jumped by 100% (from 0 to 1). Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences decreased by 33.3% (from 6 to 4). These changes reflect a complex mix of local dynamics. The surge in drug-related crimes, which were 150% above the UK average, may be linked to seasonal factors such as increased social gatherings during Bonfire Night. Conversely, the drop in violence could indicate the effectiveness of recent community initiatives or the impact of shorter evenings reducing opportunities for public disorder. Theft from the person was only 5% above the UK average, suggesting that local measures — such as well-lit public spaces or community watch schemes — may be deterring petty theft. For residents, the most concrete takeaway is that drug-related crimes, while relatively rare, are higher than national rates. This could signal a need for targeted local interventions, though the overall low crime rate still indicates a generally safe environment.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate in November 2023 (2.0 per 1,000 residents) was 25.1% lower than the previous month’s rate of 2.6 per 1,000. This decline, though modest, aligns with the area’s historical trend of maintaining a crime rate well below national averages. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 0 crimes per resident — a statistic that underscores the low risk environment residents face. Over the course of November, one reported crime occurred for every 506 residents, a figure that, while seemingly high in absolute terms, reflects the small population size of Ottery St Mary. When scaled to the town’s 6,077 residents, this means the likelihood of any individual being directly affected by crime is minimal. The comparison to the UK average also highlights stark regional differences: while Ottery’s violent crime rate was 73% below the national figure, its drug-related crime rate was 150% above. This divergence may be explained by the town’s unique characteristics — a small, close-knit community with limited commercial activity, which reduces opportunities for violent crime but may also create concentrated social networks that influence drug-related incidents. These statistics, when viewed through a per-capita lens, reinforce that Ottery St Mary remains one of the safest places in the UK to live.