Exeter Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Exeter's July 2023 crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 residents marked a significant departure from the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000, representing a 43.4% deficit. This performance aligns with the city's established reputation as a relatively safe urban area, though seasonal factors may have influenced specific crime patterns. Anti-social behaviour dominated the crime profile, accounting for 32.7% of all reported incidents, followed by violence and sexual offences (23.6%) and shoplifting (11.4%). The seasonal context of July—characterised by the peak of the tourist season, summer festivals, and school holidays—likely contributed to the prevalence of anti-social behaviour, which often spikes during periods of increased public activity. While the overall rate remained well below the UK average, the data suggests a combination of local characteristics and external influences. For instance, Exeter's mix of historic urban centres and tourist attractions may drive anti-social behaviour, whereas its relatively low levels of property crime compared to the UK average could reflect effective community policing or the absence of high-risk commercial zones. The city's crime profile illustrates a balance between proactive measures and the challenges of managing public spaces during peak tourist periods.

July 2023 saw a dramatic 133.3% increase in burglary incidents, rising from 6 to 14 cases. This surge, while modest in absolute terms, contrasts sharply with other categories. Violence and sexual offences fell by 43.8% compared to June, declining from 272 to 153 cases—a shift consistent with the seasonal pattern of reduced violent crime during summer months. Anti-social behaviour remained the most prevalent category, with a rate of 1.5 per 1,000, 6% above the UK average. This discrepancy highlights the unique pressures of Exeter's urban environment, where transient populations and large-scale events may exacerbate such incidents. Shoplifting increased by 80.5% (41 to 74 cases), a figure that could be linked to the city's retail sector attracting both local and tourist populations. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson plummeted by 51.9%, from 52 to 25 cases, reflecting the impact of targeted enforcement during the summer. The data also reveals that Exeter's rates for violent crime categories like violence and sexual offences are 60% below the UK average, suggesting that local factors—such as community engagement initiatives or the presence of public spaces that deter criminal activity—may play a role in maintaining lower levels of violent crime.

Exeter's July 2023 crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 residents marked a 15.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.5 per 1,000, indicating a downward trend in overall crime. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 21 crimes per day, a figure that provides context for the frequency of incidents in a densely populated urban area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 214 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low incidence of crime compared to other UK cities. This statistic is particularly notable when considered alongside Exeter's population of 138,399, as it demonstrates the city's capacity to manage crime effectively even during peak tourist periods. The comparison to the previous month also highlights the fluctuating nature of crime patterns, with reductions in violent crime categories potentially linked to seasonal changes such as the absence of school holidays or the dispersal of transient populations. These figures suggest that Exeter's crime management strategies, combined with its unique urban characteristics, contribute to a consistently lower crime rate than the UK average, though localised spikes—such as the burglary increase—require targeted responses to prevent escalation.