Ottery St Mary Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Ottery St Mary’s violent crime rate in August 2025 stood at 2.1 per 1,000, 27% below the UK average for this category. This contrasts sharply with the overall UK profile, where violent crime typically constitutes a larger share of total incidents. The built-up area recorded 23 crimes in total, with 13 (56.5%) classified as violence and sexual offences—a rate that, while high within the local context, remains significantly lower than the UK average of 2.9 per 1,000. Public order offences (3 incidents) and shoplifting (2 incidents) followed, with both categories also below their respective UK averages. August, a peak holiday month, typically sees increased tourism and empty homes, which may partly explain the relatively low burglary rate compared to other periods. However, the town’s small population and rural proximity to East Devon likely contribute to the overall lower crime rate. The dominance of violent crime in the local profile suggests a unique dynamic, possibly linked to the area’s social mix or community interactions, though further data would be needed to confirm. This pattern highlights the importance of contextual analysis over broad comparisons, as Ottery St Mary’s crime picture diverges from both national trends and its own seasonal expectations.

August 2025 saw significant shifts in specific crime categories. Shoplifting, drugs, and other theft each increased by 100% compared to July, rising from zero to two incidents per category. This jump may reflect seasonal factors, such as increased foot traffic during the summer months or changes in local retail patterns. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 80%, from five to one incident, possibly due to heightened community vigilance or reduced vandalism during holidays. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 33.3%, from three to two incidents. The breakdown of crime types reveals a marked imbalance: violent crimes accounted for over half of all incidents (56.5%), a share significantly higher than the UK average of 27% for this category. This suggests a local emphasis on interpersonal conflicts or community tensions, though can be inferred from the data alone. Residents may find the 100% increase in shoplifting particularly noteworthy, as it indicates a sudden change in local retail crime patterns that could warrant further attention from local businesses.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate in August 2025 (3.8 per 1,000) marked a 4.4% increase from July’s rate of 3.6 per 1,000.1% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the 31-day month, a figure that, while low, may be influenced by the town’s small population of 6,077 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 264 residents—a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area’s relative safety compared to larger, more densely populated UK regions. This low incidence aligns with Ottery St Mary’s built-up status within East Devon, where rural isolation and community cohesion may contribute to reduced crime opportunities. The population-scaled perspective reveals that residents face a significantly lower risk of victimisation than the UK average, particularly in property crimes, which accounted for only 17% of total incidents. This contrast with national trends highlights the unique characteristics of the area, where local factors such as proximity to nature, tourism infrastructure, and community policing efforts may play a role in maintaining low crime levels despite the seasonal influx of visitors.