Mid Devon Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Mid Devon's crime picture in November 2023, comprising 36.9% of all reported crimes. At 3.2 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area's overall crime rate remains 57.3% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This stark contrast with national figures underscores the effectiveness of local policing strategies in mitigating more severe crimes. Anti-social behaviour (24.4%) and criminal damage (8.5%) follow as the next most common categories, reflecting patterns often seen in smaller communities where community cohesion can influence reporting rates. November's seasonal context—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and extended darkness—likely contributes to the elevated share of violent crime, as these factors may increase opportunities for confrontations in public spaces. The relatively low property crime rate (23.3% of total crimes) suggests that household security measures and community vigilance are likely effective, though this could also reflect underreporting of thefts in a rural-adjacent area. The absence of significant spikes in shoplifting or vehicle crime, despite Black Friday's retail activity, may indicate strong local enforcement around high-street areas or a lower incidence of opportunistic theft compared to urban counterparts.

November 2023 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories, with possession of weapons increasing by 100% (3 to 6 incidents) and bicycle theft doubling (1 to 2). These rises, though small in absolute terms, may signal emerging trends warranting closer attention, particularly as winter months often correlate with increased knife crime in some regions. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 48.9% (45 to 23), a decline consistent with the seasonal slowdown in vandalism during colder months. The area's violent crime rate (1.2 per 1,000) remains 54% below the UK average, suggesting that local initiatives—such as targeted policing in high-traffic areas—may be effective. Anti-social behaviour, while still below the UK average (24% below), accounted for a quarter of all crimes, indicating persistent challenges in managing community disorder. A resident might find the 80% drop in vehicle crime (8 to 6) particularly reassuring, as this reduction aligns with national trends showing fewer car-related crimes during winter due to reduced outdoor activity. These shifts highlight the combination of local enforcement, seasonal factors, and community dynamics in shaping crime patterns.

Mid Devon's crime rate in November 2023 (3.2 per 1,000) represents an 11.9% decrease from the previous month's rate of 3.6 per 1,000, indicating a continuing downward trend. This reduction, though modest, translates to 9 crimes reported per day on average—a figure that, while seemingly high, is contextually low when considering the area's population of 84,993. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 314 residents, a ratio that places Mid Devon among the safer local authority districts in the UK. Comparing this to the previous month, the 11.9% decline suggests that ongoing community policing efforts or seasonal factors—such as the absence of major festivals in November compared to October—may be influencing crime patterns. The daily crime context also reveals that, despite the 3.2 per 1,000 rate, the average resident faces a relatively low risk of victimisation compared to larger urban areas. This is particularly evident in property crimes, which constitute only 23.3% of all reported incidents, far below the UK average for similar-sized areas. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Mid Devon's crime profile is characterised by manageable levels of violent and anti-social behaviour, with property crime remaining consistently low—a balance that likely reflects both effective local strategies and the area's rural-adjacent character.