Braunton Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Braunton's crime mix in February 2025 reveals a distinct profile shaped by its character as a built-up area within North Devon. With a crime rate of 2.1 per 1,000 residents—68.7% below the UK average—the area demonstrates a consistently low level of criminal activity. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 41.2% of all reported incidents, followed by criminal damage and arson (17.7%) and anti-social behaviour (11.8%). This balance suggests a focus on interpersonal and property-related issues, consistent with the characteristics of a small coastal town where community interactions and local amenities may influence crime dynamics. The low rates of shoplifting and public order offences, combined with the absence of drug-related crimes, further support the idea of a tightly knit community with limited opportunities for large-scale or systemic crime. Seasonal context plays a role, with February’s winter conditions likely contributing to a pre-spring lull in outdoor activity and associated crimes. However, the relatively high proportion of violent offences compared to other categories may indicate local factors such as social tensions or the influence of transient populations during off-peak tourist seasons. The data also highlights the importance of contextualising crime rates within the area’s specific geography and demographics, rather than generalising from national averages.

February 2025 saw a 200% increase in criminal damage and arson cases, rising from one to three incidents. This surge, though still low in absolute terms, suggests a potential shift in local patterns, possibly linked to seasonal factors or unseasonal weather events. Shoplifting and bicycle theft each rose by 100% from zero to one incident, marking their first recorded occurrence in the month. These increases contrast with a 50% decrease in public order offences, which fell from four to two. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 41.2% of all crimes, but their rate (0.9 per 1,000) was 62% below the UK average. Bicycle theft, the only category above the UK average (100% above), highlights a unique local challenge. Residents might note that while overall crime remains low, targeted categories like property crime are showing emerging trends that warrant attention.

Braunton's crime rate in February 2025 rose by 21.9% compared to January 2025, moving from 1.7 to 2.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, aligns with the transition from winter’s peak to early spring, when seasonal patterns often see fluctuations in activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded one reported crime per day across 28 days, a figure that reflects the low overall crime rate typical of Braunton. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 486 residents, a ratio that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in a community of 8,265 people. When contextualised against population size, this suggests that residents face a significantly lower risk of being directly affected by crime compared to the UK average. The stability in crime types, despite the rate increase, indicates that the local environment remains largely consistent in its crime profile, with no major shifts in the balance between property and violent offences.