Ottery St Mary Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

February 2026 saw Ottery St Mary maintain a crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents, nearly half the UK average of 6.4. This reflects a pattern consistent with the area’s character as a small built-up community within East Devon, where low population density and strong community cohesion likely contribute to reduced criminal activity. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 65% of all reported incidents. This category, at 2.1 per 1,000, was 9% below the UK average, suggesting local factors such as limited nightlife or effective policing may suppress violent crime. Property crimes, though lower in overall numbers (5 incidents), were proportionally smaller than the UK average, with vehicle crime and criminal damage both significantly below national rates. Seasonal context may also play a role: February’s low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull likely reduced opportunities for theft and burglary, which typically peak during warmer months or holidays. The area’s crime profile illustrates a balance between routine community policing and the natural rhythms of a rural-adjacent settlement, where social networks and local awareness may deter crime. While violent crime rates rose slightly, the overall picture remains one of relative safety compared to the UK, with no major spikes in property-related offences.

February 2026 marked a 5.1% increase in Ottery St Mary’s overall crime rate compared to January, driven by a 44.4% rise in violence and sexual offences. This category alone accounted for 13 incidents, up from 9 the previous month, with no clear seasonal or demographic explanation for the surge. Meanwhile, other theft fell sharply by 75%, from 4 to 1, potentially reflecting improved security measures or reduced opportunity during colder weather. Criminal damage and arson doubled to 2 incidents, and vehicle crime rose from 0 to 2, both significantly below UK averages (0.5 and 0.3 per 1,000 respectively). These increases contrast with the UK’s broader trend of declining vehicle crime, suggesting localized factors such as winter road conditions or increased vehicle idling in colder months. For residents, the sharp drop in other theft may indicate a positive impact of community initiatives or awareness campaigns. The mix of rising violent crime and falling property crime highlights the complexity of local crime dynamics, where seasonal transitions and community-specific factors may interact in unpredictable ways.

Ottery St Mary’s crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 in February 2026 was 5.1% higher than January’s 3.1, but still 48.4% below the UK average. This small monthly increase, despite a 5.1% rise in total crimes, translates to roughly one reported crime per day in the built-up area, a figure that feels even lower in context of the town’s 6,077 residents. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 304 residents, a ratio that underscores the area’s relative safety compared to larger urban centres. While the UK average crime rate is 6.4 per 1,000, Ottery St Mary’s performance is particularly striking in categories like anti-social behaviour, where its rate of 0.2 per 1,000 was 78% below the UK average of 0.9. This suggests that local social structures or community engagement efforts may play a role in keeping low-level disorder at bay. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that even with the 5.1% monthly increase, the area remains an outlier in its low crime rates, with no category exceeding the UK average. For residents, these figures reinforce the idea that Ottery St Mary’s crime profile is shaped by its small size, rural proximity, and likely strong community ties, which may contribute to both the overall safety and the specific patterns observed.