Ottery St Mary Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Ottery St Mary's crime profile for October 2025 reveals a stark contrast to national trends, with a crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents—59.7% below the UK average of 7.7. This built-up area within East Devon, known for its historic charm and rural surroundings, saw a marked focus on violent crimes, which accounted for 57.9% of all incidents. Violence and sexual offences (11 cases) dominated the monthly breakdown, significantly outpacing the UK average for this category (2.7 per 1,000). Property crimes, though lower in absolute numbers (4 cases), contributed to a balanced mix of crime types. Seasonal factors may have played a role, as October’s darker evenings and Halloween activities likely influenced patterns of public order and anti-social behaviour. The area’s low crime rate relative to the UK suggests a combination of community cohesion and effective local policing, though the rise in violent crime warrants attention. Burglary and criminal damage each saw a 100% increase from the previous month, potentially linked to seasonal transitions and increased foot traffic in the area. These figures underscore the need for continued vigilance, particularly as the town navigates the shift into winter.

October 2025 saw significant increases in three crime categories: burglary, criminal damage and arson, and public order offences, each doubling from September’s figures. This surge in property-related crimes may reflect heightened activity during the Halloween period. Violent crimes, while remaining the largest category, were 32% below the UK average for this type, suggesting local factors—such as the town’s tight-knit community or limited nightlife—may mitigate violence. Anti-social behaviour, however, declined by 50%, due to increased community engagement or seasonal changes in resident activity. The breakdown of crimes shows a stark contrast to national trends, with burglary and criminal damage both aligning with the UK average (0.3 per 1,000 for burglary, 0.6 per 1,000 for criminal damage nationally). Residents should be particularly alert to the doubling of public order offences, which may indicate challenges in managing crowd-related incidents around local events or seasonal gatherings. These changes highlight the need for targeted awareness, especially as the area transitions into the colder months.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate in October 2025 rose by 26.7% compared to September’s 2.5 per 1,000, though it remains well below the UK average. Over the 31 days of the month, 19 crimes were reported, equating to roughly one crime per day—a rate significantly lower than most UK areas. Monthly exposure analysis shows that, on average, one reported crime occurred for every 320 residents, a figure that contextualises the low risk of victimisation compared to national benchmarks. The population-scaled perspective reveals that even with the 26.7% increase, the absolute number of crimes remains minimal relative to the town’s 6,077 residents. This contrast with UK-wide trends underscores Ottery St Mary’s unique position as a low-crime area, where community initiatives and geographical characteristics may contribute to sustained safety. While the rise in violent crime and property-related offences is notable, the overall crime environment remains markedly safer than the UK average. Residents should note that the 1-in-320 monthly exposure rate is a local benchmark, not a comparison to national figures, as UK-wide daily or monthly exposure data is not available for this context.