Minehead Crime Rate

Minehead presents a nuanced safety profile with an overall crime rate of 109.4 per 1,000 people per year. While this figure sits above the UK average of 93.1, the area maintains a respectable safety score of 74/100, indicating a level of security that many residents find reassuring. Crucially, the local crime trend is moving in a positive direction, with a notable 10.2% decrease in reported offences year-over-year. This downward trajectory suggests that Minehead is becoming increasingly secure. As a major Somerset coastal town, the statistics reflect both its residential nature and its role as a commercial and tourism hub for the region.

Crime Breakdown in Minehead

In Minehead, the criminal landscape is primarily defined by three key areas: violence and sexual offences, shoplifting, and anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences represent the most significant category, accounting for 41.5% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 45.4 per 1,000 residents. Shoplifting follows at 14.2%, and anti-social behaviour makes up 14.0% of the total.

When examining property-related crime—which includes burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft—Minehead sees a rate of 36.0 per 1,000 people. This is slightly above the UK average for property crime (32.9). For homeowners, while burglary remains a relatively small portion of the total at 3.0%, the combined volume of theft and criminal damage suggests that residential and commercial security should remain a priority to mitigate risk.

Minehead is currently experiencing a significant reduction in criminal activity, with total crimes falling by 10.2% over the last year. Analysis of the monthly trendData shows a somewhat volatile pattern throughout 2025. For instance, crime rates dipped to a low of 6.4 per 1,000 in January 2025 but saw a sharp increase to 11.2 in May 2025. This seasonality is common in coastal towns where tourism can influence crime volumes during the spring and summer months. Despite these monthly fluctuations, the overall year-on-year trajectory remains downward. For residents, this indicates that local policing and community safety initiatives are having a tangible impact, although vigilance remains necessary during the busier peak months of the year.

How To Keep Safe in Minehead

The most prevalent crime in Minehead is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for over 41% of reported incidents. To enhance your personal safety in the town, consider the following advice:

• Stay aware of your surroundings when walking alone, particularly in the late evening or near the seafront where social activity is highest.
• If you are visiting local pubs or bars, stick with friends and ensure you have a pre-planned route home or a trusted taxi service booked.
• Use well-lit, busy pedestrian routes rather than taking shortcuts through quiet alleys or unlit park areas after dark.
• Report any suspicious or aggressive behaviour to local authorities immediately to help maintain the town's downward crime trend.
• For business owners in the town centre, ensure staff are trained in conflict de-escalation to manage the high rates of shoplifting and related public order issues.

Crime in Minehead follows distinct temporal patterns, largely influenced by its retail and social cycles. Morning and afternoon periods are dominated by theft-related offences, particularly shoplifting, which accounts for 56% of crimes during these hours. As the day progresses into the evening, the nature of crime shifts towards 'other' categories, including anti-social behaviour, which peaks as the town's nightlife and social areas become more active. Night-time (12am - 6am) sees a significant rise in property-related risks, with burglary accounting for 26% of incidents in this period and vehicle crime rising to 12%. This suggests that while daytime crime is largely commercial, the risk to residential property increases significantly under the cover of darkness.

When comparing Minehead to its immediate neighbours, there is a clear distinction between this urban hub and the surrounding rural villages. Carhampton, located nearby, has a significantly lower crime rate of 47.4 per 1,000 people. Meanwhile, very small settlements like Dunster, Wootton Courtenay, and Blue Anchor report 0.0 crimes per 1,000 people, highlighting their exceptionally quiet, rural character. For those looking for a more tranquil environment, these nearby villages offer maximum safety, though they lack the amenities and transport links found in Minehead. Minehead remains the primary activity centre for the area, which naturally results in its higher, though declining, crime statistics.

With a property crime rate of 36.0 per 1,000 people in Minehead, protecting your home requires more than just reactive measures. Traditional security systems often fail because they only record the crime as it happens; by the time you receive a notification from a standard doorbell camera, a thief may already be inside. For genuine peace of mind, Minehead residents should consider proactive protection. The scOS operating system uses advanced AI to monitor your property boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they reach your door. By using multi-camera intelligence and autonomous responses—such as activating lights or speakers—scOS destroys the element of surprise that burglars rely on. In an area where burglary peaks during the night-time hours, having an intelligent system that never blinks and can verify vehicles via DVLA data ensures your home remains a hardened target, effectively preventing crime rather than just documenting it.