Ilfracombe Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Ilfracombe’s February 2025 crime profile reveals a stark imbalance between violent and property crimes, with the former dominating at 54 incidents compared to 26 property-related offences. This 92.5% elevation above the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000 residents underscores the area’s distinct challenges. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 42.5% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (26.0%) and criminal damage and arson (11.8%). These figures align with Ilfracombe’s character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist activity, where seasonal factors and local demographics may contribute to heightened interpersonal conflicts. The winter months, particularly February, typically see reduced outdoor activity and lower foot traffic, which could partially explain the lower property crime rates compared to other periods. However, the sharp rise in violent offences suggests pressures from unseasonal gatherings or unresolved community tensions. The data also highlights a marked divergence from UK averages in specific categories: anti-social behaviour is 240% above the national rate, while shoplifting is 35% below. This contrast may reflect Ilfracombe’s smaller population and unique spatial dynamics, where a limited number of high-traffic zones amplify certain types of crime. The seasonal context of February—a pre-spring lull—may have contributed to the lower property crime rates, but the persistence of violent incidents indicates a need for targeted measures addressing local triggers such as alcohol-related disputes or transient populations.

February saw a 42.1% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 38 to 54 incidents. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in drug-related crimes and possession of weapons, signals a shift in the crime mix toward more serious offences. Conversely, shoplifting and burglary both dropped by 75%, reflecting a possible seasonal lull in property crimes. Violent crime rates in Ilfracombe remain 134% above the UK average for this category, a stark contrast to shoplifting, which is 35% below the national figure. These disparities highlight the area’s unique challenges, with anti-social behaviour and criminal damage contributing 26.0% and 11.8% of total crimes respectively. A resident might note that the 54 reported violent incidents in February represent nearly half of all crimes, underscoring the need for focused interventions in high-risk areas.

The crime rate in Ilfracombe for February 2025 stood at 12.9 per 1,000 residents, a 4.5% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 13.5 per 1,000. This slight decline suggests a possible stabilisation in local crime trends, though the overall rate remains significantly higher than the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately five crimes per day in February, a figure that reflects the persistent nature of local issues. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 78 residents, highlighting the frequency of incidents within a small population. When scaled to the town’s 9,873 residents, this monthly exposure underscores the need for targeted community engagement and policing strategies. The comparison with the UK average, while not directly relevant to daily patterns, reinforces the unique challenges faced by Ilfracombe, which may be influenced by its coastal location and seasonal visitor flows.