Ottery St Mary Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Ottery St Mary's September 2023 crime rate of 1.7 per 1,000 residents places the area 78.8% below the UK average, a statistic that reflects the community's long-standing commitment to maintaining public safety. The breakdown of reported crimes reveals that anti-social behaviour constitutes the largest share at 40%, followed by violence and sexual offences at 20%. These figures suggest a focus on addressing non-violent but disruptive incidents, which may be influenced by the area's character as a small, built-up town within East Devon. The seasonal context of September—marked by the return to school and university freshers—may have played a role in shaping these patterns, with anti-social behaviour linked to increased social activity in the area. The relatively low crime rate is consistent with the broader demographic profile of Ottery St Mary, which is characterised by a mix of residential and commercial properties, but lacks the high-density urban environments that often correlate with higher crime rates. The data also indicates that property crimes, which accounted for 30% of all reported incidents, remain a smaller proportion of the overall crime mix compared to violent crimes. This distribution may be partly explained by the town's low population density and the presence of local amenities that discourage more serious criminal activity. While the area's crime profile remains generally stable, the increase in anti-social behaviour highlights the need for continued community engagement and policing efforts to address emerging trends.

September 2023 witnessed a 50% decrease in violent crimes, with incidents falling from four to two. This reduction is consistent with the area's historical trend of lower violent crime rates, likely influenced by the seasonal context of back-to-school activities and shorter evenings, which may reduce opportunities for such offences. Conversely, anti-social behaviour saw a 100% increase, rising from two to four incidents, a shift that may reflect heightened community interactions during the start of the academic year. Other crime categories also showed notable changes, with 'other crime' doubling from zero to one incident, while criminal damage and arson, other theft, and burglary each experienced a 50% reduction. These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of local crime patterns and the importance of ongoing monitoring. The area's performance against UK averages is striking: anti-social behaviour rates are 48% below the national figure, and violent crime rates are 89% below. These figures underscore Ottery St Mary's position as a relatively safe community, although the increase in anti-social behaviour suggests areas for targeted intervention.

Ottery St Mary's September 2023 crime rate of 1.7 per 1,000 residents marks a 28.3% decrease from the previous month's rate of 2.3 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader trend observed in the area during the transition from summer to autumn, when seasonal factors such as reduced foot traffic and shorter evenings may contribute to lower crime visibility. Daily crime statistics reveal that, on average, fewer than one crime occurred each day in September, a figure that underscores the area's consistently low crime environment relative to national benchmarks. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 608 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. This statistic, when contextualised against Ottery St Mary's population of 6,077, highlights the community's relative safety and the effectiveness of local policing strategies in maintaining order. The data further indicates that property crimes, which accounted for 30% of total reported incidents, remain a smaller proportion of the overall crime mix compared to violent crimes, which constitute 20% of the total. This distribution suggests a focus on addressing anti-social behaviour and other non-violent but disruptive incidents as key priorities for local authorities.