Mid Devon Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Mid Devon, 5.4 crimes were reported in April 2024 — a rate 29.9% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This translates to a roughly 1-in-185 chance of experiencing a crime over the course of the month, placing the area among the safer local authority districts in England. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, comprising 36.3% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (19.8%) and public order offences (8.7%). The seasonal shift into spring, marked by Easter and increased outdoor activity, likely contributed to patterns seen in public order and anti-social behaviour categories, which often correlate with social gatherings and public spaces. While violent crime rates remained lower than the UK average, the mix of crime types reflects a community where interpersonal disputes and public space management are key factors. Property crime, though lower than the UK average, remains a concern, with shoplifting and burglary rates particularly subdued, possibly linked to improved retail security measures or seasonal retail patterns. The data suggests a balance between proactive policing and community engagement efforts, though the relatively low overall rate underscores the effectiveness of local crime prevention strategies in this rural-urban mix area.

April 2024 saw three crime categories doubling compared to March: robbery, shoplifting, and theft from the person, each increasing by 100%. This surge, though modest in absolute terms, may signal heightened vulnerability in specific contexts — for example, the 100% rise in robbery could reflect increased foot traffic around Easter events or changes in public safety awareness. Conversely, other crime, drugs, and vehicle crime all declined, with other crime dropping 61.5% and drugs falling 37.5%, linked to seasonal shifts in illicit activity or targeted enforcement. Violence and sexual offences remained 22% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may reflect the area’s rural-urban character, where community cohesion and lower population density contribute to reduced violent crime. Vehicle crime — typically linked to commuter parking or rural isolation — fell 33.3%, suggesting either improved vehicle security measures or a temporary dip in opportunistic theft. The stark contrast between Mid Devon’s shoplifting rate (0.4 per 1,000) and the UK average (0.7 per 1,000) highlights the effectiveness of retail crime prevention efforts, including CCTV coverage or staff training in high-traffic areas. Residents may find the 40% UK-wide gap in shoplifting rates particularly relevant when shopping locally.

The crime rate in Mid Devon rose 2.5% from March’s 5.3 per 1,000 to April’s 5.4 per 1,000, a minor fluctuation within the broader context of sustained safety. Daily crime statistics reveal 15 reported incidents per day on average, a figure that, while seemingly high, must be contextualised against the area’s population of 84,993. This equates to roughly one crime occurring for every 185 residents over the course of the month — a rate that, compared to UK averages, suggests a community where crime is both less frequent and less impactful on a per capita basis. The population-scaled perspective is particularly useful for residents: if every household in Mid Devon were to experience a crime at the same rate, it would equate to roughly 460 incidents distributed across 22,000 households (assuming an average of 3.87 residents per household). This distribution highlights the sporadic nature of crime in the area, where most residents are unlikely to encounter it directly. The comparison to the UK average also underscores Mid Devon’s effectiveness in maintaining safety, with its crime profile reflecting a combination of geographic factors (such as lower population density) and possibly robust local policing strategies. The 1-in-185 monthly exposure figure, while not zero, remains a benchmark that local authorities can use to measure progress against national standards.