South Molton Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2025, South Molton's crime profile revealed a pronounced imbalance between violent and property crimes, with violent incidents accounting for 53.3% of all reported crimes. The area's overall crime rate of 7.3 per 1,000 residents placed it 5.2% below the UK average of 7.7, a narrow but consistent gap that suggests local factors may be influencing crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences emerged as the most significant category, contributing 24 incidents (3.9 per 1,000 residents), a figure 47% higher than the UK average for this category. This dominance of violent crime contrasts with the lower prevalence of property crimes, which accounted for only 12 incidents (1.9 per 1,000 residents). Seasonal context may help explain this pattern: as October brought darker evenings and the approach of Halloween, increased pedestrian activity in town centres and parks could have heightened opportunities for confrontations. The relatively low rate of property crime—particularly burglary, vehicle crime, and shoplifting—suggests that local initiatives or environmental factors may be mitigating theft risks. The area's built-up character within North Devon, likely characterised by a mix of residential and commercial spaces, may also play a role in shaping this dynamic, where social interactions in public areas could contribute to higher violent incident rates compared to more isolated rural settings.

October 2025 saw a 28.6% month-on-month increase in South Molton's crime rate, rising from 5.7 to 7.3 per 1,000 residents. This jump was driven by a sharp rise in violent crime, with violence and sexual offences increasing to 24 incidents (up from 16 in September), while property crime remained stable at 12. Among specific categories, criminal damage and arson surged by 300% (from 1 to 4 incidents), shoplifting doubled (from 1 to 3), and public order offences doubled (from 1 to 2). These increases contrasted with declines in burglary (-66.7%) and vehicle crime (-66.7%), suggesting shifting patterns in criminal activity. Violent crime in South Molton remains 47% above the UK average for this category, a disparity that stands out despite the area's overall rate being slightly below the national figure. This divergence highlights the uneven distribution of crime types across the UK, with South Molton's higher incidence of violent crime potentially linked to local social dynamics or environmental factors. For residents, the rise in public order offences—now at 0.3 per 1,000 residents, 43% below the UK average—may indicate a combination of community engagement and enforcement efforts in managing low-level disruptions.

South Molton's October 2025 crime rate of 7.3 per 1,000 residents marked a 28.6% increase compared to the previous month's rate of 5.7, reflecting a significant uptick in reported incidents. On a daily basis, this translated to approximately one crime per day across the 31-day period, a figure that, while modest, underscores the ongoing presence of criminal activity in the area. When scaled to the local population of 6,136 residents, the monthly exposure rate of 1-in-136 residents highlights the frequency with which individuals may encounter crime, albeit at a level that remains below the UK average for most categories. This comparison to the previous month's data reveals a clear upward trend, potentially influenced by seasonal factors such as the transition into darker evenings and the timing of Halloween, which may have increased opportunities for crime. The relatively low incidence of burglary (0.2 per 1,000 residents, 33% below the UK average) and vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000 residents, 52% below the UK average) suggests that certain aspects of the area—such as its built-up nature or local security measures—may be effective in deterring property-related offences. However, the persistent gap in violent crime rates compared to the UK average indicates that targeted interventions may be necessary to address the root causes of this disparity, particularly in light of the recent increases observed in October.