Plymouth Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Plymouth’s crime rate in May 2023 stood at 5.4 per 1,000 residents, 32.5% below the UK average of 8.0. This marked deviation from the national figure underscores the city’s unique crime profile, shaped by its coastal location and urban character. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 45.7% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 2.5 per 1,000—10% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 29.8% of total crimes, though its rate (1.6 per 1,000) was 20% higher than the UK average. This divergence may be linked to the city’s social fabric, including the density of its urban areas and the presence of transient populations. Seasonal factors also played a role: longer evenings and the approach of summer holidays likely contributed to increased socialising, which may have influenced the prevalence of violence and anti-social behaviour. Meanwhile, property crimes remained low, with shoplifting at 0.2 per 1,000—59% below the UK average—suggesting effective policing or environmental deterrents in retail areas. These patterns highlight the combination of local geography, community dynamics, and national crime trends, with Plymouth’s data offering a clear contrast to the broader UK picture.

May 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns across Plymouth. Burglary rates surged by 42.1%, climbing from 19 to 27 incidents—a jump that may reflect seasonal activity or changes in local security measures. Concurrently, anti-social behaviour increased by 12.3%, reaching 438 cases, a figure 20% above the UK average. This contrast with the 42.6% decline in public order offences, which dropped from 68 to 39, highlights the dynamic nature of crime in different contexts. Meanwhile, vehicle crime and theft from the person fell sharply, with the latter dropping 33.3% (from 6 to 4). These fluctuations suggest that specific community dynamics or environmental factors—such as the extended evenings of May—may be influencing criminal activity in distinct ways.

Plymouth's crime rate in May 2023 (5.4 per 1,000) reflects a slight decrease from the previous month (5.5 per 1,000), a -2.2% drop. This minor shift underscores the area’s relative stability in crime trends. On a daily basis, 47 crimes were reported, averaging roughly one incident for every 185 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure contextualises the likelihood of encountering crime in a given period, though it does not indicate daily risk levels. The population of 272,067 means that local crime patterns are influenced by both urban density and Plymouth’s coastal geography, which may affect the distribution of certain offences. While the overall rate remains well below the UK average, the breakdown of specific categories—such as anti-social behaviour and violence—reveals nuanced variations that require closer analysis of local conditions.