Ottery St Mary Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Ottery St Mary's violent crime rate in August 2024 (2.0 per 1,000) was 26% below the UK average for this category, making it an outlier in a month typically associated with increased crime due to summer tourism. The built-up area recorded 22 crimes overall (3.6 per 1,000), 56.1% below the national average of 8.2 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 54.6% of all crimes, followed by other theft (13.6%) and vehicle crime (4.6%). This pattern contrasts with the UK's higher proportion of property crimes, suggesting Ottery St Mary's unique social and geographical characteristics may influence crime dynamics. As a small market town within East Devon, the area's low population density and limited commercial infrastructure likely contribute to its lower crime rates. August's peak holiday season typically raises burglary risks due to empty homes, yet the area's burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) remained 38% below the UK average. This may reflect effective community policing or the transient nature of local tourism. The low vehicle crime rate (0.2 per 1,000) also contrasts with national trends, due to limited car ownership or parking infrastructure in the built-up area. Despite the rise in bicycle theft (122% above UK average), the overall crime profile remains significantly safer than the national average, with anti-social behaviour (4.6%) and criminal damage (4.6%) both well below UK figures.

August 2024 saw three crime categories rise from zero to one incident: vehicle crime, bicycle theft, and burglary. This contrasts with sharp declines in anti-social behaviour (80% drop), criminal damage (75% drop), and other theft (62.5% drop). The violent crime rate (2.0 per 1,000) was 26% below the UK average for this category, despite being the most common crime type locally. Bicycle theft stood out as the only category exceeding the UK average (122% above), potentially linked to increased summer cycling activity. Residents may find the 1-in-276 monthly exposure rate (one crime per 276 residents) particularly relevant for contextualizing local safety. The property crime share (36%) fell below the violent crime share (64%), an unusual split suggesting localized factors may be influencing crime patterns.

Ottery St Mary's crime rate in August 2024 (3.6 per 1,000) marked a 37.2% decline from July's 5.8 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained downward trend. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 276 residents, highlighting a relatively low monthly exposure compared to national averages. Daily crime context shows an average of one crime per day across the built-up area, a figure that aligns with the area's historically low crime profile. When scaled to the population, the 6,077 residents experienced a total of 22 crimes, equating to a 0.36% incidence rate. This contrasts sharply with the UK average, where residents face a 0.82% incidence rate. The reduction in anti-social behaviour (down 80%) and criminal damage (down 75%) suggests localized factors—such as seasonal tourism patterns or community engagement—may be influencing crime dynamics. The area's compact size and limited commercial density likely contribute to this lower baseline, though further analysis would be needed to confirm.