Dartmouth Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Dartmouth's crime profile in November 2023 reveals a marked imbalance between violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 41.2% of all incidents—a stark contrast to the UK average where such offences constitute 50% of total crimes. This area's overall crime rate of 3.2 per 1,000 residents, 57.3% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000, suggests a unique combination of factors shaping its crime mix. The dominance of violent crime over property crime is unusual for a coastal town, potentially influenced by seasonal dynamics such as the timing of Bonfire Night and the early onset of darker evenings, which may increase opportunities for confrontational incidents. Anti-social behaviour, the second most common category, remains 43% below the UK average, reflecting the tight-knit nature of the built-up area within South Hams. Meanwhile, property crimes like burglary and shoplifting remain significantly lower than national levels, with burglary at 0.4 per 1,000 (18% above the UK average) and shoplifting at 0.2 per 1,000 (64% below the UK average). This suggests that while violent crime is a growing concern, the area's low levels of property crime may be attributable to its compact geography, limited commercial density, and the absence of large retail hubs typically associated with higher shoplifting rates. The seasonal context of November—marked by extended darkness and community events—likely amplifies the visibility of violent crime, even as other categories remain suppressed, a pattern consistent with smaller towns where social cohesion may mitigate certain types of disorder.

The most striking shift in November 2023 was a 250% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 2 to 7 incidents. This surge, though not unprecedented, contrasts with a 66.7% drop in shoplifting, likely linked to the Black Friday shopping period shifting to October. Anti-social behaviour also fell by 25%, possibly due to reduced public gatherings during the month. Dartmouth's violence rate of 1.3 per 1,000 remains 50% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, suggesting local factors such as community policing or demographic characteristics may contribute to this divergence. Burglary saw a 100% increase from zero to two incidents, a rare occurrence in an area where property crime typically remains low. Residents may find the daily crime count of one incident per day particularly relevant, offering a tangible reference point for local safety awareness.

Dartmouth's November 2023 crime rate of 3.2 per 1,000 residents reflects a 13.1% increase from the previous month's 2.8 per 1,000. This rise, though modest, aligns with seasonal patterns typical of November in coastal areas, where darker evenings and events like Bonfire Night may temporarily elevate certain crime types. Locally, the daily crime count averaged 1 incident per day over the month, a figure that contextualises the rate as relatively low compared to the UK average. Over the course of November, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 312 residents, illustrating that the likelihood of experiencing a crime remains statistically low for most residents. When scaled to the population of 5,307, this monthly exposure highlights the rarity of crime in Dartmouth, even as specific categories like violence and sexual offences saw sharp increases. The comparison to the UK average further underscores the area's distinct profile, with violent crime rates remaining 50% below national levels despite the month-on-month rise.