Willand Crime Rate

Willand is a notably safe residential settlement with an overall crime rate of 51.8 per 1,000 residents, which is well below the UK average of 93.1. This contributes to a high safety score of 87/100, positioning Willand as one of the more secure areas in the Mid Devon local authority. Despite this high safety rating, the area has experienced a recent upward trend, with reported crime increasing by 22.1% year-over-year. This rise, while starting from a low base, suggests a shift in the local environment that warrants attention. The following data provides a comprehensive look at the specific crime types, monthly fluctuations, and time-based patterns that define Willand's safety profile.

Crime in Willand

Willand's crime profile is heavily dominated by violence and sexual offences, which constitute 50.0% of all reported crimes. This is followed by criminal damage and arson at 14.3% and anti-social behaviour at 12.1%. While the overall crime rate is low, the high proportion of violence-related reports suggests that personal safety and domestic incidents are the primary concerns for local law enforcement.

Property crime in Willand, encompassing burglary, theft, and vehicle-related offences, stands at 15.4 per 1,000 residents. This is remarkably low compared to the UK average of 32.9. Burglary specifically accounts for just 3.9% of total crime, while vehicle crime is even lower at 1.6%. For residents, this means that while the risk of property loss is statistically low, the prevalence of criminal damage (14.3%) suggests that vandalism is a more frequent issue than actual theft from the home.

Crime Trends in Willand

Willand has seen a significant increase in reported crime over the last 12 months, with a year-over-year rise of 22.1%. While the overall crime rate remains low compared to larger urban areas, this trend indicates a notable change in the local safety environment.

Analysis of monthly data reveals that the crime rate was exceptionally low at the end of 2024 and start of 2025, with rates between 2.3 and 2.8 per 1,000 residents. However, activity increased sharply in the spring and summer of 2025. Rates climbed to 4.3 in April, peaking at 6.5 in July and remaining high at 6.3 in September. This suggests that the increase is not just a one-off spike but a sustained period of higher activity during the warmer months. Residents should remain aware of this trend, even though the settlement remains statistically safer than the UK average.

How To Keep Safe in Willand

The most prevalent crime type in Willand is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for half of all reported incidents. While the area is generally very safe, taking standard precautions can help maintain personal security.

1. Be mindful of your surroundings when walking alone, especially in quieter residential areas or along footpaths after dark.
2. Ensure your home is well-lit at night; motion-sensor lighting can be an effective deterrent for both anti-social behaviour and property crime.
3. Keep ground-floor windows and doors locked at all times, even when you are inside the house, to prevent opportunistic entry.
4. If you notice persistent anti-social behaviour or suspicious individuals loitering near your property, report it to the local police to help them monitor patterns.
5. Join a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme to stay informed about recent incidents and share safety information with your neighbours.

Crime Timing in Willand

Crime in Willand follows specific temporal patterns that residents should note. The afternoon (12pm - 6pm) is the peak time for theft, which accounts for 42% of reports during these hours. This is likely linked to the movement of people and commercial activity during the day. In contrast, the night period (12am - 6am) sees a higher concentration of burglary (18%) and vehicle crime (14%), occurring when natural surveillance is at its lowest.

The evening hours (6pm - 12am) are primarily dominated by 'other' crimes, which include anti-social behaviour and public order offences, making up 69% of reports in this window. Morning hours also see a high percentage of theft (40%). These trends indicate that while property-related crimes like burglary and vehicle theft are more common under the cover of darkness, opportunistic theft and social order issues are more prevalent during the busier daylight and evening hours.

Willand sits in a relatively low-crime corridor. When compared to nearby settlements, it is safer than Uffculme (58.8 crimes per 1,000) and Sampford Peverell (63.6). However, it has a higher crime rate than the smaller village of Halberton, which stands at 30.6. The nearby area of Stoneyford recorded 0.0 crimes, though it has a much smaller population. Willand’s rate is typical for a larger, growing residential community that acts as a hub between these smaller villages and larger towns like Tiverton or Cullompton, balancing a quiet suburban feel with the activity of a larger population.

Protecting Your Property in Willand

With a property crime rate of 15.4 per 1,000 people, Willand is statistically very safe, yet the 22.1% increase in overall crime highlights the need for modern security. A significant portion of local crime involves criminal damage and arson (14.3%), suggesting that vandalism is a greater risk than in many similar areas. Traditional security systems often fail here because they only record the damage after it has occurred.

For real protection, homeowners should consider proactive AI-powered systems like scOS. Unlike standard CCTV, scOS monitors your property boundaries in real-time, using multi-camera intelligence to identify threats before they reach your home. If someone approaches with the intent to commit vandalism or burglary, scOS can trigger autonomous responses like activating floodlights or voice alerts. This proactive approach destroys the element of surprise and often deters offenders before any damage is done. In a growing community like Willand, visible and intelligent security is the most effective way to ensure your home remains a difficult target.