Ottery St Mary Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

May 2024 marked a notable shift in Ottery St Mary’s crime profile, with shoplifting and burglary each rising by 100% compared to April. Despite these increases, the overall crime rate remained exceptionally low at 2.1 per 1,000 residents, a figure 75% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This stark contrast to national trends reflects the area’s character as a small, low-density built-up area within East Devon, where community cohesion and limited commercial activity likely contribute to lower crime rates. Violence and sexual offences. of all incidents, fell by 30% month-on-month, highlighting a consistent pattern of lower violent crime compared to the UK. The breakdown reveals that shoplifting (15.4% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (7.7%) were the next most common categories, both significantly below UK averages. Seasonal factors such as longer evenings and increased socialising during May’s bank holidays may have influenced crime patterns, though the overall drop in violent crime suggests that local initiatives or community dynamics could be playing a role. The area’s low crime rate is further reinforced by its population-scaled exposure: one crime per 467 residents over the month, a figure that underscores the rarity of incidents in this compact community. While the rise in shoplifting and burglary indicates a need for vigilance, the broader context of Ottery St Mary’s crime profile remains one of relative safety compared to both regional and national benchmarks.

The most striking shift in May 2024 was the 100% increase in shoplifting, which rose from one to two incidents. This jump, though small in absolute terms, contrasts with the 100% increase in burglary, which moved from zero to one reported case. These spikes may reflect seasonal factors such as longer evenings and increased foot traffic in local shops. Conversely, violence and sexual offences fell by 30% month-on-month, from 10 to 7 incidents, a decline that aligns with the area’s overall trend of lower violent crime compared to the UK average (58% below). Anti-social behaviour also dropped by 50%, from two to one incident, suggesting a potential reduction in public disorder during the month. Shoplifting’s rate (0.3 per 1,000) remains 53% below the UK average, underscoring Ottery St Mary’s lower prevalence of property crime despite the increase. For residents, the low daily crime count (0 per day) offers reassurance that even with seasonal fluctuations, the area remains a safe place to live.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate in May 2024 fell to 2.1 per 1,000 residents, a 35% drop from 3.3 per 1,000 in April. This decline positions the area as significantly safer than the UK average, which stood at 8.4 per 1,000. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 467 residents, a figure that contextualises the low frequency of incidents in a community of 6,077 people. Daily crime statistics reveal a starkly low profile: 13 total crimes spread over 31 days equate to approximately 0 crimes per day. This suggests that even during periods of increased activity, such as bank holidays or longer evenings, the area remains remarkably secure. When compared to the UK’s broader context, Ottery St Mary’s rates for specific categories like violence and sexual offences (58% below the UK average) and anti-social behaviour (86% below) highlight a consistent pattern of lower prevalence in categories often linked to urban environments. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that, despite minor fluctuations, the area maintains a crime profile far removed from national trends.