Exeter Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For every 100 residents in Exeter, there were eight reported crimes in January 2025, placing the city 18.3% above the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This higher rate reflects a combination of local characteristics, including Exeter's status as a historic university city with a mix of urban and suburban areas. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (33.9% of total), shoplifting (17.8%), and anti-social behaviour (16.6%). These patterns are consistent with Exeter's role as a major retail and educational hub, where high foot traffic in the city centre likely contributes to shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday, with reduced retail activity and shorter days—may have influenced the crime profile, as outdoor crimes typically decrease in winter. However, the elevated rate of violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average (2.5 per 1,000) suggests deeper factors, such as the city's student population or social dynamics in densely populated areas. Shoplifting, which is 142% above the UK average, may also be linked to Exeter's retail presence and the challenges of managing high-traffic commercial zones. These trends highlight the need for tailored approaches to crime prevention that address both the urban environment and the specific vulnerabilities of the local population.

January 2025 saw a sharp rise in robbery, with incidents increasing by 80% compared to December, from five to nine cases. This spike may partly explain the overall violent crime trend, as robbery is typically linked to anti-social behaviour in urban centres. Bicycle theft also surged by 66.7%, rising from nine to 15 incidents—a figure that is 100% above the UK average. This increase could be attributed to winter conditions, which may make cyclists more vulnerable or less likely to secure bikes properly. Meanwhile, public order offences fell by 24.7%, a decline consistent with the post-holiday lull in retail activity and shorter daylight hours. The city's violence and sexual offences rate dropped by 16.5%, from 473 to 395 cases, though it remains 16% above the UK average. This mixed picture illustrates how local factors—such as seasonal transitions and urban density—can influence crime patterns in ways that diverge from national trends.

Exeter's crime rate in January 2025 fell to 8.4 per 1,000 residents, a 4.0% decrease from the previous month's 8.8 per 1,000. This monthly decline, though modest, contrasts with the area's continued position above the UK average. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 38 crimes per day in January, a figure that translates to one reported crime for roughly every 119 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate highlights the persistent presence of crime in the local environment, even as overall rates show a slight downward trend. The population context is critical: with 138,399 residents, the 1,166 total crimes reported in January represent a significant volume, particularly when compared to the UK average. While the decrease from December suggests a potential seasonal shift, the city's crime rate remains higher than the national benchmark, indicating that local factors continue to influence crime dynamics. This comparison underscores the need for targeted local interventions, as the national average does not fully capture Exeter's unique challenges.