Sidmouth Crime Rate

Sidmouth presents a reassuring safety profile with an overall crime rate of 48.4 per 1,000 people. This figure is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.6, contributing to an impressive safety score of 88/100. The area is currently experiencing a stable trend in criminal activity, with a modest year-over-year decrease of 3.7%. This suggests that Sidmouth remains a consistently secure environment for its 14,512 residents. The data, spanning January 2025 to December 2025, indicates that while Sidmouth is an active urban settlement, it avoids the higher crime volumes typically associated with larger coastal towns. This introduction provides a foundation for the detailed breakdown of local crime patterns and safety insights that follow.

Sidmouth maintains a property crime rate of 13.6 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national average. The most frequent offences are violence and sexual offences, accounting for 46.9% of all reported incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 13.1% and criminal damage and arson at 9.1%. When looking at property-related crime collectively—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft—the figures remain relatively low for an urban settlement. Burglary specifically accounts for just 2.6% of total crime, while vehicle crime is recorded at 2.7%. For residents, this suggests that while personal safety and public order are the primary focus of local policing, property security remains a secondary but relevant consideration for homeowners.

The crime trend in Sidmouth is currently classified as stable, with a year-over-year decrease of 3.7%. Analysis of the monthly data for 2025 shows a relatively consistent crime rate, generally hovering between 3.0 and 5.4 per 1,000 people. The year began with lower rates in the first quarter, followed by a noticeable peak in June (5.0) and October (5.4). These fluctuations may reflect seasonal visitor numbers or specific local events. The year ended with a decline to 3.5 in December. For residents, this stability is a positive indicator, suggesting that the local policing environment is effectively managing crime levels without significant surges. The consistent safety score of 88/100 reinforces the view that Sidmouth remains a secure and predictable environment.

How To Keep Safe in Sidmouth

The most prevalent crime type in Sidmouth is violence and sexual offences, which often includes incidents occurring in domestic settings or during evening socialising. To enhance your personal safety, consider the following advice:

1. Stay aware of your surroundings when walking alone, particularly in less illuminated areas or along the seafront during late evening hours.
2. If you are out enjoying Sidmouth's nightlife, try to stay with friends and plan your route home in advance.
3. Utilise personal safety apps on your smartphone that allow you to share your live location with trusted contacts.
4. Report any instances of anti-social behaviour or public disorder to the local authorities promptly, as this helps the police allocate resources to specific hotspots.
5. Ensure your home is well-lit at the entrance points, as good visibility can deter opportunistic incidents near residential properties.

Crime patterns in Sidmouth show distinct variations throughout the day. Morning and afternoon periods are heavily weighted towards theft-related offences, with theft accounting for 55% and 58% of crimes in these periods respectively. This likely correlates with the opening hours of local businesses and retail activity. As the day progresses into the evening, the nature of crime shifts; 'other' crimes, which often include anti-social behaviour and public order offences, rise to 54%. During the night (12am - 6am), the profile changes again. While overall crime volume is typically lower, the percentage of vehicle crime spikes to 26%, and burglary reaches its highest proportional level at 16%. This suggests that property and vehicle-related offences are primarily a nocturnal concern in Sidmouth.

When comparing Sidmouth to its immediate neighbours, the contrast between urban and rural settings is evident. Sidmouth's rate of 48.4 per 1,000 is slightly higher than Newton Poppleford, which sits at 44.5. However, smaller surrounding villages such as Sidbury, Tipton St John, and Otterton all report crime rates of 0.0 per 1,000 people. This is typical for very small, close-knit communities where police-recorded incidents are extremely rare. For those looking at the wider East Devon region, Sidmouth offers a balanced profile—providing the amenities of a larger town while maintaining a crime rate that is nearly half the national average, making it a highly attractive location for safety-conscious residents.

With a property crime rate of 13.6 per 1,000, Sidmouth is a low-risk area, yet property protection should not be overlooked. Traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV or doorbells, are often reactive, providing footage only after a crime has been committed. For homeowners in Sidmouth seeking a higher level of security, a proactive approach is recommended. The scOS AI-powered operating system represents this shift, moving from simple recording to active prevention. By using multi-camera intelligence to monitor property boundaries in real-time, scOS can identify suspicious behaviour and intervene autonomously with lights or audio before an intruder attempts a break-in. This type of professional-grade deterrence is particularly effective in residential areas where the goal is to make a property an unattractive target, ensuring that potential threats are stopped at the perimeter rather than after they have entered the home.