Puriton Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Puriton

Puriton, a built-up area with a population of approximately 2,252 residents, reports an overall crime rate of 54.6 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is considerably lower than the UK average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, positioning Puriton as a notably safer location. The area boasts an impressive safety score of 87 out of 100, well above the UK average safety score of 78/100. Furthermore, the area has experienced a significant positive trend, with a substantial decrease of 44.8% in crime year-over-year. This introduction provides a positive overview of Puriton's crime situation, which will be further explored in the following sections detailing specific crime types, trends, and comparisons with nearby areas.

Crime Type Analysis in Puriton

In Puriton, the crime landscape is primarily influenced by violence and sexual offences, which account for 48 incidents, representing 21.3 per 1,000 residents and 39.0% of all recorded crimes. Other theft is the second most frequent concern, with 20 reported crimes (8.9 per 1,000, 16.3% of total), indicating issues around opportunistic theft. Anti-social behaviour ranks as the third highest crime type, with 16 incidents (7.1 per 1,000, 13.0% of total), highlighting concerns related to public nuisance.

Property-related crime in Puriton stands at a rate of 17.8 per 1,000 people per year, which is significantly lower than the UK average property crime rate of 33.2 per 1,000. This category includes other theft (20 crimes, 8.9 per 1,000), vehicle crime (7 crimes, 3.1 per 1,000), criminal damage and arson (6 crimes, 2.7 per 1,000), and burglary (4 crimes, 1.8 per 1,000), and shoplifting (3 crimes, 1.3 per 1,000). The considerably lower property crime rate suggests a generally secure environment for homeowners and residents, although maintaining vigilance and appropriate security measures is always prudent to preserve this positive safety record.

Crime Trends in Puriton

Puriton has experienced a significant positive crime trend over the last year, with a substantial decrease of 44.8% year-over-year. This dramatic downward shift indicates a remarkable improvement in overall safety compared to the previous 12-month period. Analysing the monthly trend data reveals notable fluctuations, but with a clear overall decreasing pattern. The crime rate per 1,000 residents saw a low of 0.9 in April 2025, after starting higher at 6.2 in October and November 2024. While there were some minor increases, the rate in September 2025 was 4.4 per 1,000, significantly lower than the previous year's average. This substantial decrease in crime is highly reassuring for residents, contributing to a strong sense of enhanced safety and well-being within the community.

Understanding Crime Time Patterns in Puriton

Crime patterns in Puriton show distinct variations throughout the day, offering insights into when certain offences are more likely to occur. The morning period (6am-12pm) sees a notable prevalence of theft, accounting for 74% of crimes, often associated with commercial activity and people commuting. Burglary also contributes, making up 7% of incidents, suggesting that properties left unattended during the start of the working day can be vulnerable.

During the afternoon (12pm-6pm), theft remains the dominant crime type at 76%, likely due to increased foot traffic and shopping activities. Burglary rises to 12%, as more homes may be empty. As the day transitions into the evening (6pm-12am), the crime landscape shifts significantly. Theft reduces to 45%, while burglary rises to 16%, often targeting homes as darkness falls. Vehicle crime also increases to 9%.

The night hours (12am-6am) present a different set of risks. Vehicle crime peaks at 27%, and burglary reaches its highest proportion at 23%, as properties are often unattended and vehicles are parked overnight. Theft drops to 26%, and 'Other' crimes account for 24%. These patterns highlight the importance of securing homes and vehicles during the overnight period when residential areas are quieter.

Crime Comparison with Nearby Areas

Puriton boasts a very favourable crime profile when compared to several nearby areas. Dunball, another small settlement, typically exhibits varying crime rates but often with slightly higher per capita figures due to its size. Woolavington, a slightly larger built-up area, generally has a higher overall crime rate than Puriton, positioning Puriton as a comparatively safer area within its immediate vicinity. Pawlett and Bawdrip, both rural villages, also tend to have lower crime rates, but Puriton's significant year-on-year decrease stands out. These comparisons provide valuable regional context for residents and those considering moving to or within the Puriton area, highlighting its strong safety record.

Enhancing Security in Puriton

With Puriton's property crime rate of 17.8 per 1,000 residents being significantly lower than the UK average, the area benefits from a relatively secure environment. However, proactive security measures are always beneficial to maintain and enhance this safety, especially given the positive trend. Traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV cameras, often only provide footage after an incident has occurred, essentially recording a burglary rather than preventing it. For true protection, an AI-powered home security operating system like scOS offers a fundamentally different and proactive approach.

scOS is designed to prevent crime before it happens by detecting threats at your property boundary, rather than simply documenting them. Its multi-camera intelligence and pattern learning capabilities allow it to distinguish between routine activities and genuine threats, only alerting on real dangers. This means that unlike systems that notify you after the fact, scOS intervenes in real-time. For residents in Puriton, investing in professional-grade equipment like scOS ensures that potential intruders are deterred within those critical 60 seconds, making them move on and providing a robust layer of protection against property crime, even in a generally safer area.