Sidmouth Crime Rate March 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Sidmouth’s crime rate in March 2023 stood at 1.8 per 1,000 residents, a figure 76.3% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. This stark disparity highlights the area’s generally low crime profile, which is further reinforced by the dominance of specific crime types. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 50% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 0.9 per 1,000 — 67% below the UK average. This category’s prominence may reflect the built-up area’s characteristics as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist activity, where interpersonal conflicts could arise during the transition to spring. The second most common crime was criminal damage and arson (26.9% of total), with a rate of 0.5 per 1,000 — 17% below the UK average. This could be linked to seasonal factors, such as increased outdoor activity and longer evenings, which may contribute to property-related incidents. The seasonal context of March — a time of shifting light and the start of the spring season — may partly explain the distribution of crime types, with more foot traffic in the evenings influencing both violent and property crime dynamics. Despite the low overall rate, the breakdown shows that certain categories, like possession of weapons, exceed the UK average by 43%, indicating a need for targeted awareness even in an area with generally strong safety metrics.

March 2023 saw a stark contrast in crime patterns compared to the UK average, with violence and sexual offences making up 50% of all reported incidents — a rate 67% below the UK norm. This category’s share of total crimes underscores a focus on personal safety issues, potentially influenced by the area’s character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist activity. Meanwhile, property crimes (10 incidents) formed a smaller proportion (38.5%) of total crimes, reflecting a lower incidence of burglary or theft compared to the UK average. A notable deviation from national trends was the 43% increase in possession of weapons cases, which exceeded the UK average by 43% (0.1 vs 0.1 per 1,000). This figure, though small in absolute terms, warrants attention as it suggests a specific local dynamic. For residents, the daily crime count of one incident per day provides a concrete, relatable measure of the area’s safety profile.

In March 2023, Sidmouth recorded 26 crimes over 31 days, equating to roughly one crime per day. This monthly figure means that, on average, one reported crime occurred for every 558 residents — a measure that contextualises the scale of crime within the built-up area’s population of 14,512. While daily crime counts are relatively low, the monthly exposure figure illustrates that the likelihood of encountering crime remains minimal compared to the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Sidmouth’s crime profile is markedly safer than the national context, with only 26 incidents reported across a community of over 14,000 people. This statistic provides a tangible benchmark for residents, showing that the area’s crime rate is not only lower in absolute terms but also proportionally distant from the UK norm. However, the breakdown of crime types reveals nuances, such as possession of weapons being 43% above the UK average, which highlights the need for targeted awareness even in a generally low-crime environment.