Plymouth Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Plymouth's August 2023 crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents places it 25.9% below the UK average of 8.1, a disparity reflecting the city's unique socio-economic profile. The top crime types—violence and sexual offences (29.7% of total), anti-social behaviour (26.5%), and criminal damage (11.1%)—illustrate a mix of persistent and situational challenges. Violence and sexual offences, at 1.8 per 1,000, are 32% below the UK average, potentially influenced by Plymouth's coastal character and community-focused policing strategies. Anti-social behaviour, however, exceeds the UK average by 11%, which may correlate with the city's tourism infrastructure and transient populations. Seasonal factors further shape these patterns: August, as a peak holiday month, likely contributed to the 51.2% drop in burglary (from 41 to 20), as empty homes reduce target availability. Conversely, the 57.3% rise in shoplifting (75 to 118) may align with increased retail activity during summer months. These trends highlight how local geography and temporal rhythms intersect with crime dynamics, offering insights beyond raw statistics. While the overall rate remains lower than national averages, the shifts in crime types and their magnitudes suggest targeted interventions may be necessary to address specific vulnerabilities, such as the surge in bicycle theft and robbery.

August 2023 saw a stark 100% increase in bicycle theft, with reports rising from 6 to 12. This jump, occurring alongside a 66.7% rise in robbery (from 6 to 10), suggests emerging vulnerabilities in transport security or heightened opportunistic activity during peak summer travel. Meanwhile, burglary dropped 51.2% (from 41 to 20), a decline consistent with the seasonal context of August as a peak holiday month. Empty homes during this period may have reduced burglary targets. Shoplifting surged by 57.3% (75 to 118), a shift that could reflect retail activity patterns or targeted enforcement in high-traffic areas. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic interplay between local rhythms and crime trends, with August's data revealing both risks and mitigations in real time.

Plymouth's August 2023 crime rate (6.0 per 1,000 residents) marked a 12.3% increase from July's 5.4 per 1,000. This translates to roughly 53 crimes reported daily, though this figure fluctuates with seasonal activity. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 165 residents, a rate that contextualises risk in terms of local population exposure. While the overall rate remains 25.9% below the UK average, the shift in crime mix reveals nuanced patterns. For instance, violent crime (29.7% of total) saw a 1.8 per 1,000 rate, 32% below the UK average, possibly reflecting community-focused policing efforts or lower population density compared to larger urban centres. Conversely, anti-social behaviour (26.5% of total) reached 1.6 per 1,000, 11% above the UK average, which may align with the city's coastal tourism infrastructure drawing transient populations. These figures highlight how local demographics and geography shape crime profiles distinct from national trends.