Plymouth Crime Rate March 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Plymouth’s crime profile in March 2025, accounting for 40.3% of all reported crimes. With a crime rate of 9.2 per 1,000 residents, the city recorded 2,510 total crimes, placing it 17.9% above the UK average of 7.8 per 1,000. This figure reflects a persistent challenge in managing violent crime, which has been consistently higher than the national average. The breakdown shows that violence and sexual offences, at 3.7 per 1,000, are 36% above the UK rate, a discrepancy that may be influenced by the city’s urban density and the presence of nightlife areas. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, making up 18.6% of total crimes and also exceeding the UK average by 36%. These trends are likely exacerbated by the transition to spring, as longer evenings and warmer weather may contribute to increased social gatherings and associated conflicts. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson accounted for 9.2% of crimes, with rates 58% above the UK average, suggesting that vandalism remains a significant issue in certain areas. The seasonal context of March—marked by the shift to daylight saving time and the gradual increase in outdoor activity—may also play a role in the rise of property-related crimes, such as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. However, the data also reveals some positive trends: shoplifting rates remained stable at 0.7 per 1,000, only 3% above the UK average, and other thefts decreased slightly, indicating that some areas of the city may be experiencing improved security or community engagement. The challenge for local authorities is to address the disproportionate rise in violent crime while maintaining efforts to curb property-related offences. This requires a nuanced approach that considers both the seasonal factors influencing crime patterns and the specific characteristics of Plymouth’s urban environment.

March 2025 saw a sharp 125% increase in bicycle theft, with reported cases rising from 4 to 9. This surge may be linked to the transition to spring, as more residents take to cycling with the lengthening evenings. Concurrently, other crime rose by 38.3%, with a notable jump from 47 to 65 cases, suggesting a broader uptick in non-specific criminal activity. In contrast, robbery fell by 36.4%, dropping from 11 to 7 incidents, a decline that could reflect heightened policing efforts or seasonal changes in public behaviour. Burglary also decreased by 35.4%, falling from 48 to 31 cases, though this remains a relatively low category compared to the UK average. The data also reveals that violence and sexual offences in Plymouth are 36% above the UK average, a disparity that may be influenced by the city’s urban character and the presence of nightlife areas. Meanwhile, other thefts dropped by 22.4%, with cases declining from 147 to 114, a reduction that could be tied to improved security measures or a seasonal shift in criminal focus.

Plymouth’s crime rate in March 2025 rose to 9.2 per 1,000 residents, marking a 12.2% increase from the previous month’s 8.2 per 1,000. This shift places the city 17.9% above the UK average, a gap that has widened compared to February. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 81 crimes per day, a figure that underscores the ongoing pressure on local policing resources. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for every 108 residents over the course of the month, a statistic that highlights the frequency of incidents in a relatively large population of 272,067. This rate, while not extreme, suggests that residents are not immune to the broader UK trend of fluctuating crime patterns. The contrast between property and violent crime is also notable: while property crimes remained stable, violent crimes surged, reflecting a shift in the nature of criminal activity. This imbalance may be influenced by factors such as the transition to spring, which often correlates with increased social interaction and, consequently, higher rates of violence and anti-social behaviour.