Exeter Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Exeter’s October 2025 crime rate of 8.6 per 1,000 places it 11.7% above the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This discrepancy is most pronounced in violence and sexual offences, which occur at 3.6 per 1,000—35% higher than the UK rate. These figures highlight a stark outlier in Exeter’s crime profile compared to the national average. As a major urban centre with a significant student population, the city’s dynamics may partly explain this pattern. Violence and sexual offences constitute 42.3% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (16.8%) and criminal damage and arson (9.4%). The seasonal context of October, with clocks going back and darker evenings, likely influences crime patterns. Halloween-related activity, for instance, may have temporarily reduced shoplifting but increased public order incidents. The city’s mix of historic areas, university campuses, and commercial zones creates a complex environment where crime rates are shaped by both local characteristics and broader national trends. While Exeter’s rate exceeds the UK average, the breakdown reveals a nuanced picture, with some categories—like shoplifting—performing below the national level. This contrast underscores the importance of contextualising crime data within Exeter’s unique social and geographic profile.

October 2025 saw significant fluctuations in crime categories. Public order offences surged by 45.9%, rising from 61 to 89, a sharp increase that may reflect heightened activity in public spaces during darker evenings. Vehicle crime rose by 61.5%, with 13 incidents in September growing to 21 in October, potentially linked to seasonal changes in parking patterns or increased traffic. Conversely, shoplifting fell sharply by 53.8%, dropping from 156 to 72, a decline that could be attributed to Halloween-related retail activity shifting earlier in the month. Violence and sexual offences remained 35% above the UK average, a persistent outlier that contrasts with the UK’s rate of 2.7 per 1,000. This divergence may be influenced by Exeter’s status as a university city, where student populations and transient communities could contribute to higher rates of violent incidents.

Exeter's crime rate in October 2025 dropped by 8.1% compared to September, reflecting a shift from the previous month's rate of 9.4 per 1,000 to the current 8.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns, as shorter evenings and post-Halloween activity may have reduced opportunities for certain crimes. On a daily basis, 38 crimes were reported across the 31 days, translating to a local frequency that residents might interpret as a relatively consistent presence of crime in public spaces. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 116 residents, a figure that contextualises the impact of crime on the population. With Exeter’s population at 138,399, this rate suggests that while crime is present, it does not overwhelm the community on a daily basis. The drop from September also contrasts with the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, highlighting Exeter’s continued position above the national benchmark but showing a moderation in recent trends.