Sidmouth Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Sidmouth's crime profile in January 2026 reveals a marked imbalance between violent and property crimes, with the former dominating the overall rate. At 3.6 per 1,000 residents, the area's crime rate is 47.1% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, reflecting a safer environment relative to national trends. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 46.2% of all crimes, significantly outpacing property crimes (30.8%), a pattern consistent with Sidmouth's character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist activity. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday lull, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall—likely contributes to the lower property crime rates. This contrast between crime types may indicate the influence of local dynamics: the town's compact built-up area and limited commercial zones may reduce opportunities for property crime, while social interactions in public spaces and transient populations could heighten risks of violence. The UK average for violent crimes is 2.5 per 1,000, but Sidmouth's rate of 1.7 per 1,000 is 32% below that figure, suggesting effective local measures or demographic factors that mitigate violent crime. However, the dominance of violent crime over property crime highlights the need for targeted interventions in areas where interpersonal conflicts may arise, such as public spaces or community hubs.

January 2026 saw sharp fluctuations in specific crime categories, with shoplifting surging by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents) and robbery doubling from 0 to 1. These increases contrast with declines in public order offences (-50%) and other theft (-28.6%), which may reflect seasonal shifts in community activity or policing focus. The balance between property and violent crime remains stark: violent crimes (24) outnumbered property crimes (16) by 54%, a disparity that aligns with Sidmouth's profile as a low-density built-up area where social interactions may outweigh commercial opportunities for theft. Sidmouth's rate for violence and sexual offences (1.7 per 1,000) is 32% below the UK average, a figure that could indicate strong community cohesion or effective local policing strategies. Conversely, anti-social behaviour (0.3 per 1,000) is 68% below the UK average of 0.9 per 1,000, reflecting the town's smaller population and tighter-knit social networks. Residents may find the 200% increase in shoplifting particularly concerning, as it suggests vulnerabilities in retail security during the post-holiday period, even as broader property crime rates remain low.

Sidmouth's crime rate in January 2026 (3.6 per 1,000) represents a 2.0% increase from the previous month's rate of 3.5 per 1,000, indicating a stable trend with minimal month-on-month variation. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 2 crimes per day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 279 residents over the course of the month—a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. This context highlights Sidmouth's relative safety, particularly when compared to larger urban centres where higher population densities often correlate with increased crime rates. The town's small population of 14,512 and its status as a coastal built-up area likely contribute to its lower crime rates, as these characteristics can limit opportunities for certain types of crime while fostering community oversight. However, the 200% rise in shoplifting underscores the need for vigilance in retail environments, even in areas with otherwise low crime profiles. For residents, the 1-in-279 monthly exposure rate provides a tangible benchmark for understanding the likelihood of encountering crime, though this figure aggregates all crime types and does not reflect the specific risks associated with violent or property crimes.