Bittaford Crime Rate

Bittaford is a secure urban settlement in the South Hams area, featuring a high safety score of 88/100. The area's overall crime rate stands at 45.9 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the UK national average of 93.1. Encouragingly, Bittaford is experiencing a significant decreasing trend, with a 21.4% fall in reported incidents year-over-year, indicating an improving safety landscape for its 2,485 residents. Property crime is also notably low at just 10.8 per 1,000 people, compared to the national average of 32.9. These statistics reflect a peaceful community where major criminal activity is rare, making it an attractive location for those seeking a secure and stable residential environment.

Crime in Bittaford

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequent crime type in Bittaford, accounting for 52.6% of all reports. This is followed by anti-social behaviour and other theft, each making up 14.0% of the area's total crime. These three categories represent over 80% of all recorded incidents, indicating that interpersonal and low-level community issues are the primary drivers of crime statistics in this settlement.

The overall property crime rate in Bittaford is very low at 10.8 per 1,000 residents, which is roughly one-third of the UK average of 32.9. Within this category, other theft is the most significant concern. Burglary is extremely rare, with a rate of 1.2 per 1,000 residents (2.6% of total crimes), and vehicle crime was not reported in the current dataset. For homeowners, this means that while the risk of a serious break-in is minimal, there is a persistent level of opportunistic theft. Residents should focus on securing property boundaries and ensuring outbuildings are protected to maintain the area's high standards of safety.

Crime Trends in Bittaford

The crime trend in Bittaford is currently decreasing, with a significant 21.4% fall in total reported incidents over the last 12 months. This downward movement is a positive sign for the village, suggesting an improving safety landscape. Monthly data shows fluctuations, with the crime rate peaking at 6.4 per 1,000 residents in July 2025 and 6.0 in November 2024.

The lowest activity was recorded in March 2025, with a rate of just 2.0 per 1,000. These variations are typical for an area with a population of approximately 2,485, where a small number of incidents can significantly impact monthly percentages. Despite occasional spikes, the overall trend since late 2024 has been generally downward. For residents, this stability and improvement reinforce Bittaford’s reputation as a safe residential area, although the occasional monthly spikes highlight the need for consistent security awareness.

How To Keep Safe in Bittaford

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Bittaford. While the overall volume is low, personal safety and community awareness are essential for maintaining the village's secure atmosphere.

1. Stay aware of your surroundings when walking through the village at night and try to stick to well-lit paths.
2. Join or support a local neighbourhood watch scheme to ensure that information about recent incidents is shared quickly among residents.
3. Ensure your property is well-lit with motion-sensor lighting, particularly around entry points and driveways, to discourage loitering.
4. Given the rise in burglary risk at night, ensure all doors and windows are securely locked and valuables are out of sight before retiring for the evening.
5. Secure your home’s perimeter with robust fencing and consider installing a proactive security system that can alert you to threats before they reach your door.

Crime Timing in Bittaford

Crime in Bittaford follows a distinct temporal cycle. Morning (6am-12pm) and afternoon (12pm-6pm) periods are dominated by theft-related offences, which account for 66% of reports in both windows. This suggests that opportunistic crimes are most likely to occur during daylight hours when residents may be away from their homes.

As the day transitions into the evening and night, the nature of crime shifts toward property and community-related offences. Evening hours (6pm-12am) see a rise in "other" crime types, which make up 51% of reports. Overnight (12am-6am), burglary becomes a more prominent concern, accounting for 27% of all reports during these hours—the highest percentage for burglary across any time period. These patterns indicate that while Bittaford is generally safe, the risk of residential break-ins is significantly higher during the hours of darkness, requiring increased vigilance and robust overnight security measures.

In the context of the South Hams region, Bittaford is positioned as a very safe residential choice. Its crime rate of 45.9 per 1,000 is lower than that of nearby Ivybridge (53.9) and South Brent (58.4). While it is more active than the exceptionally quiet, zero-crime village of Ermington, it is significantly safer than Modbury (28.2) is not, as Modbury is lower at 28.2. Bittaford sits in a cluster of safe settlements, providing a secure environment that is consistent with the low-crime character of its immediate neighbours. For residents, this local context highlights Bittaford's relative safety within the wider Devon area.

Bittaford’s safety score of 88/100 and low property crime rate of 10.8 per 1,000 residents are excellent indicators of a secure community. However, the presence of theft and the peak of burglary risk at night mean that homeowners should still be proactive about security. Traditional systems, such as basic CCTV, are often reactive—they only provide evidence after a crime has been committed. For true prevention, a more advanced approach is necessary.

scOS is an AI-powered home security operating system that transforms standard cameras into an active defence system. By using multi-camera intelligence, scOS detects potential threats at your property boundary before they can escalate into a break-in or theft. It can distinguish between your family, a delivery driver, and a suspicious individual loitering near your home. If a threat is identified, scOS can autonomously trigger lights and speakers to deter the intruder in real-time. This proactive deterrence is particularly effective against the opportunistic theft seen in Bittaford, stopping the crime before it happens rather than simply recording it for later review.