Barnstaple Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a town of 29,465 residents, Barnstaple recorded 180 crimes in July 2023, translating to 6.1 crimes per 1,000 people. This rate is 26.5% below the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000, reflecting a safer environment compared to the national picture. The most common crime types were anti-social behaviour (36.1% of total), violence and sexual offences (25.0%), and criminal damage and arson (10.6%). These figures align with Barnstaple’s character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and commercial areas, where anti-social behaviour may be influenced by seasonal tourism and summer festivals. Violence and sexual offences, though below the UK average, could be linked to increased social activity during the school holidays. Criminal damage and arson, while lower than the UK average, may be tied to the town’s historic buildings and public spaces. July, as a peak summer month, saw higher foot traffic in local shops and attractions, which may contribute to anti-social behaviour and minor property crimes. The lower-than-average violent crime rate suggests effective community policing or a demographic profile less prone to such incidents compared to other UK areas.

July 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns compared to June. Vehicle crime surged by 150%, rising from 2 to 5 incidents—a sharp increase that may reflect heightened tourism or summer events requiring more vehicle parking. Theft from the person also doubled, climbing from 0 to 2 cases, potentially linked to increased foot traffic in tourist areas. Conversely, drugs-related crimes fell by 60%, dropping from 5 to 2, due to seasonal changes in illicit activity or targeted enforcement. Public order offences declined by 54.5%, from 11 to 5, which could indicate successful community engagement during summer events. Anti-social behaviour remained the most prevalent category, with a rate of 2.2 per 1,000—55% above the UK average. This discrepancy highlights Barnstaple’s unique challenges, where its coastal character and summer events may amplify certain types of disorder. Meanwhile, violent crimes were 46% below the UK average, suggesting a lower incidence of severe offences compared to national trends. These shifts underscore the combination of seasonal activity and local policing priorities.

Barnstaple’s crime rate in July 2023 (6.1 per 1,000) marked a 9.1% decrease from June’s rate of 6.7 per 1,000, indicating a slight downward trend. On a daily basis, the town experienced approximately 6 crimes per day, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the pace of incidents for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 164 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the likelihood of being affected by crime in this area. When scaled to Barnstaple’s population of 29,465, this means the community collectively faced 180 incidents, a number that, while non-trivial, remains significantly lower than the UK average. The comparison to national data reveals Barnstaple’s relative safety, particularly in categories like violent crime and property theft, where it consistently underperforms the UK average. However, the higher-than-average rate of anti-social behaviour suggests that localised issues—such as those tied to summer festivals or overcrowding in public spaces—require targeted strategies to mitigate their impact. These figures illustrate a town managing crime effectively but with specific areas for improvement.