South Molton Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

South Molton's crime rate in June 2023 stood at 3.9 per 1,000 residents, placing it 54.1% below the UK average of 8.5. This stark contrast highlights the area's relative safety compared to national trends, though the data reveals a complex picture of local crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 62.5% of all reported incidents (15 cases), with a rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents. This figure is 18% below the UK average for this category, suggesting a lower prevalence of violent crime than expected in a rural area. Anti-social behaviour followed with 12.5% of total crimes (3 cases), and other theft accounted for 8.3% (2 cases), both significantly below UK averages. The seasonal context of June, marking the start of summer, may influence these patterns. Longer daylight hours and the beginning of the tourist season in nearby coastal areas could contribute to increased foot traffic in local centres, affecting crime dynamics. However, the overall low crime rate indicates that South Molton maintains a safer environment than the national average, even as specific categories like violence show notable activity. This duality suggests that while the area is generally secure, targeted interventions may be needed to address rising violent crime rates.

June 2023 saw a dramatic increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 1 case in May to 15, a 1400% surge. This jump, though not matched by a corresponding rise in property crimes (only 5 total, compared to 10 in May), signals a significant shift in crime mix. The category of 'other crime' also saw a 100% increase, moving from 0 to 1 case, while criminal damage and arson rose from 0 to 1 case—a 100% increase. These spikes, though small in absolute numbers, may reflect seasonal factors such as increased social activity during summer. Violent crime in South Molton remains 18% below the UK average, despite the surge, suggesting local contextual factors may moderate national trends. The breakdown also shows that property crimes, while present, are far below UK averages: shoplifting, vehicle crime, and criminal damage all register rates 57-69% below national figures. This contrast highlights the area's unique profile, where violent crime is more prevalent relative to property crime than in many other regions. Residents may find the 15 reported violent crimes in June—equivalent to one such incident for every 408 residents—particularly noteworthy, given the area's generally low crime profile.

Compared to May 2023, South Molton's crime rate rose sharply from 1.6 to 3.9 per 1,000 residents, a 139.9% increase. This jump, though significant, still leaves the area 54.1% below the UK average. Daily crime statistics show an average of 1 crime per day in June, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 256 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate—1 in 256—provides context for residents: over 30 days, the likelihood of encountering a crime in the area is relatively low compared to larger urban centres. However, the population-scaled perspective reveals that the 24 total crimes reported in June represent a disproportionate share of the area's 6,136 residents. With a population of just over 6,000, the crime rate translates to 24 incidents spread across a community of that size, emphasizing the small-scale nature of local crime. This contrasts sharply with the UK average, where the equivalent rate would translate to 51 crimes in a similar-sized area. The comparison underscores both the area's relative safety and the potential for localized spikes in specific crime categories, as seen in the surge of violent offences.