Ottery St Mary Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Ottery St Mary in April 2024 reveals a distinct balance of crime types that diverges from the UK average. With a crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents—57.1% below the UK average of 7.7—the area demonstrates a marked safety compared to national trends. The top three crime categories, violence and sexual offences (50% of total), criminal damage and arson (15%), and anti-social behaviour (10%), collectively illustrate a pattern where interpersonal and property-related crimes dominate, though the violent crime share is higher than the UK average. This imbalance may reflect the area’s social dynamics, such as the presence of community hubs or events that contribute to interpersonal conflicts. The seasonal context of April, with its Easter celebrations and spring weather, likely influenced these trends: increased outdoor activity may have encouraged anti-social behaviour, while the absence of major shopping periods may have reduced shoplifting incidents. Violence and sexual offences, though lower than the UK average, remain the largest single category, a trend consistent with the area’s character as a built-up part of East Devon, where smaller communities may experience more concentrated incidents. The UK comparison further highlights the area’s relative safety, with all categories except robbery (which is 100% above the UK average) showing significant gaps below the national rate. This mix of crime types—particularly the dominance of violent crimes—suggests that local factors, such as community cohesion or the presence of specific venues, may play a role in shaping the area’s crime profile. The seasonal shift toward spring, with its potential for both increased social interaction and structured events, may also have influenced the types and frequencies of reported crimes.

April 2024 saw significant shifts in Ottery St Mary’s crime mix, with anti-social behaviour, public order offences, and robbery each rising by 100% compared to March. These increases, particularly in anti-social behaviour, may be linked to the Easter period, when community events or increased foot traffic could create conditions conducive to such incidents. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 66.7%, reflecting seasonal changes in retail activity or heightened awareness during the Easter shopping period. The violent crime category, which contributed 50% of all reported crimes, decreased by 9.1% month-on-month, though it remains 34% below the UK average. Robbery—the only crime type in Ottery St Mary exceeding the UK average—rose sharply from zero to one incident, a 100% increase. This anomaly suggests either a rare occurrence or a localized factor, such as specific events or venues, that may have contributed to the spike. For residents, the absence of shoplifting incidents in April may indicate a positive trend, though the rise in anti-social behaviour underscores the need for continued community vigilance.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate in April 2024 (3.3 per 1,000) reflects a 9.1% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 3.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the seasonal rhythm of spring, when outdoor activity may shift toward more structured patterns, potentially reducing opportunities for certain crimes. Locally, the daily crime count averages one reported incident per day over the 30-day period, a figure that underscores the low frequency of crime in this built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 304 residents, a statistic that highlights the relative safety of the population compared to larger urban centres. While the UK-wide daily crime context is not available for this area, the monthly exposure figure offers a clear local perspective: for every 304 residents, one crime was recorded. This ratio, combined with the area’s population of 6,077, illustrates that the vast majority of residents experience no direct involvement in crime during any given month. The low crime rate, when viewed alongside the population-scaled perspective, suggests that Ottery St Mary’s built-up area maintains a secure environment, though the presence of specific crime types—such as robbery—remains a notable exception to the overall trend.