Shepton Mallet Crime Rate

Shepton Mallet, a historic market town in Somerset, maintains a crime rate of 87.4 per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 93.1, contributing to a safety score of 77/100. The crime trend in the area is currently stable, showing a minor year-over-year increase of 2.8%. While the overall volume of crime is lower than the national benchmark, the breakdown reveals a high concentration of violence and sexual offences. However, property-related crime remains significantly below national averages, making Shepton Mallet a relatively secure environment for homeowners. This analysis explores the nuances of local crime data, providing residents with the insights needed to understand their local environment and stay safe.

In Shepton Mallet, the crime profile is heavily weighted toward violence and sexual offences, which account for nearly half of all reports at 49.7%. Anti-social behaviour (12.9%) and public order offences (9.3%) are the next most significant categories. When looking at property crime—including burglary, vehicle crime, and various thefts—the rate is 19.9 per 1,000 people. This is substantially lower than the UK average of 32.9, indicating that Shepton Mallet is relatively safe from property-related offences compared to many national urban areas. Burglary specifically makes up only 2.2% of total crime, while vehicle crime accounts for 1.9%. For residents, this means that while public-facing and interpersonal crimes are the most frequent, the risk to the home and personal property is statistically lower than the national benchmark.

Crime in Shepton Mallet is currently stable, with a year-over-year increase of 2.8%. Analysis of the trendData reveals a fluctuating pattern throughout the year. The highest crime rate was recorded in November 2024 at 9.0 per 1,000, followed by another peak in October 2025 at 8.5. The safest months were February and March 2025, where rates dropped to 5.1 and 5.3 respectively. The recent trend shows a gradual increase from the spring lows, with the last six months of 2025 showing a steady climb in reported incidents. This suggests that while the annual change is minor, the area has experienced a more active second half of the year.

How To Keep Safe in Shepton Mallet

The most frequent crime in Shepton Mallet is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for nearly 50% of all reports. To stay safe, it is important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in the town centre during the evening and night. Plan your journeys, stick to well-lit main roads, and avoid poorly lit alleys or isolated park areas after dark.

For property safety, the 28% spike in vehicle crime during the night highlights the importance of securing your car. Always park in a garage or a well-lit area, and never leave valuables on display. Residents should also be vigilant about anti-social behaviour, which is the second highest crime type (12.9%). Reporting incidents to local authorities helps maintain community safety. Finally, ensure your home is physically secure with high-quality locks and consider motion-sensitive lighting for driveways and rear entrances to deter opportunistic theft during the night-time hours.

Shepton Mallet shows clear temporal shifts in crime activity. Morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm) periods are dominated by theft-related offences (44% and 47% respectively), likely linked to the town's commercial and retail sectors. As the day transitions into evening (6pm - 12am), 'other' crimes, which include anti-social behaviour and public order issues, rise to 61% of total activity. The most significant shift occurs at night (12am - 6am), where vehicle crime surges to 28% and burglary to 18%. This indicates that while daytime crime is largely commercial, the night-time poses a specific and elevated risk to residential property and vehicles.

Shepton Mallet serves as a primary urban centre for several smaller, very quiet neighbouring settlements. Villages like Croscombe, Pilton, and Oakhill all report exceptionally low crime rates of 0.0 per 1,000 people, highlighting the stark contrast between the rural outskirts and the town centre. Evercreech, another nearby settlement, has a crime rate of 48.4, which is roughly half that of Shepton Mallet. As the local hub for retail, industry, and services, Shepton Mallet naturally attracts a higher volume of reported incidents than its rural neighbours, but it remains a safe choice compared to larger regional urban centres.

With a property crime rate of 19.9 per 1,000, Shepton Mallet is statistically safer for homeowners than many parts of the UK. However, the data shows that 28% of night-time crime is vehicle-related and 18% is burglary, suggesting that property is most vulnerable when owners are asleep. Traditional security systems like Ring or Nest are reactive; they notify you after an intruder is already at your door or, worse, inside your home. For true protection, Shepton Mallet residents should consider the proactive approach offered by scOS. This AI-powered operating system monitors all cameras simultaneously, detecting threats at the property boundary. By using pattern learning to recognise residents and deliveries, scOS avoids false alarms while providing an autonomous response—such as activating lights or speakers—to deter criminals before they can act. In an area where property crime is low but focused on specific hours, a professional-grade proactive system is the best way to ensure your home remains a sanctuary.