Ottery St Mary Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences surged by 75% in January 2024, marking the most unexpected shift in Ottery St Mary’s crime profile. This spike, from eight to fourteen incidents, contrasts sharply with the area’s overall crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents—48.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. While the town typically experiences lower crime due to its rural-urban hybrid character, the sudden rise in violent crime defies seasonal patterns usually associated with post-holiday lulls. The breakdown reveals violence and sexual offences dominated (60.9% of total crimes), followed by criminal damage and arson (17.4%) and anti-social behaviour (13.0%). These figures align with Ottery St Mary’s unique profile: a small built-up area within East Devon, where limited retail activity and seasonal tourism may influence crime dynamics. January’s shorter daylight hours and reduced footfall in local businesses could have contributed to a shift in criminal activity. The town’s property crime rate (5 incidents) remains low, with shoplifting and public order offences both 65% and 58% below UK averages respectively. This suggests a community where public spaces are relatively safe, but targeted violence appears to be an emerging concern. The data highlights a paradox: while Ottery St Mary consistently outperforms the UK in property crime, its vulnerability to violent incidents may reflect unmet community needs or transient factors impacting local safety.

The most striking change in January 2024 was a 75% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from eight to fourteen incidents. This surge, though still below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), raises questions about local factors such as transient populations or unaddressed social tensions. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 25%, dropping from four to three incidents—a decline that may reflect community efforts or seasonal inactivity during January’s shorter days. The crime mix also shifted significantly: violent crime now constitutes 60.9% of all incidents, compared to property crime’s 21.7% (5/23). This imbalance contrasts with the UK average, where violence and sexual offences make up 2.6 per 1,000 (35% of total UK crime), but Ottery St Mary’s rate of 2.3 per 1,000 is 12% below the national figure. Criminal damage and arson (0.7 per 1,000) exceeded the UK average (0.6 per 1,000) by 23%, suggesting localized issues such as vandalism in specific areas. Residents might find the daily crime count (roughly 1 per day) particularly relevant, as it underscores the low frequency of incidents despite the violent crime spike. This data invites reflection on how the town’s small-scale nature and community cohesion interact with crime trends.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate in January 2024 rose 4.4% compared to December’s 3.6 per 1,000, though it remains well below the UK average. The monthly exposure figure—1 reported crime for every 264 residents—illustrates the rarity of incidents in this built-up area. Daily crime statistics show an average of one incident per day, a rate that, while stable, may feel more pronounced due to the concentrated nature of violent crimes. When scaled to the town’s 6,077 residents, the 23 total crimes represent a 0.38% incidence rate, highlighting the area’s general safety. However, the 75% increase in violent crimes creates a stark contrast with the previous month’s data, suggesting a temporary disruption in local patterns. This shift may be influenced by factors such as seasonal transitions, with January’s post-holiday period impacting social dynamics. The UK context further emphasizes Ottery St Mary’s performance: while the national rate of violence and sexual offences is 2.6 per 1,000, the town’s 2.3 per 1,000 is 12% below that benchmark. Yet, the 23% higher rate of criminal damage and arson (0.7 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.6 per 1,000) indicates localized vulnerabilities. These comparisons underscore the complexity of Ottery St Mary’s crime profile, where safety in some categories coexists with specific challenges that require targeted attention.