Dartmouth Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Dartmouth's crime rate in August 2025 stood at 7.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 7.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects a notable decline from the previous month's rate of 8.7 per 1,000, a 13.0% decrease that may be attributed to seasonal factors, such as the influx of tourists during August, a peak holiday month in the coastal resort. The breakdown of crime types reveals a mixed picture, with violence and sexual offences remaining the most prevalent category, accounting for 40% of all reported crimes. However, the surge in 'Other crime'—a category that includes unclassified or hybrid offences—rose sharply by 200% compared to the previous month, now exceeding the UK average by 275%. This anomaly, coupled with a 300% increase in anti-social behaviour, suggests that certain types of crime are being affected by temporary factors such as seasonal tourism. In contrast, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson both declined significantly, with shoplifting dropping by 66.7% and criminal damage and arson falling by 71.4%. These decreases may be linked to reduced foot traffic or altered business hours during the holiday season. The overall crime profile in Dartmouth, while showing a downward trend in the aggregate rate, highlights the importance of monitoring specific categories that deviate from national averages. For instance, the 48% increase in burglary over the previous month, despite the overall decline, underscores the need for targeted local initiatives to address these anomalies. The seasonal context of August, which brings a surge in visitors to Dartmouth's coastal and tourist attractions, likely contributes to the fluctuations in certain crime categories, such as anti-social behaviour and 'Other crime'. This suggests that temporary factors, rather than long-term trends, are driving some of the most significant changes in the local crime profile. The data also illustrates that while Dartmouth's overall rate remains below the UK average, the distribution of specific crime types reveals a combination of local conditions and broader national patterns. Understanding these nuances is crucial for residents, local authorities, and community organisations seeking to address emerging challenges and capitalise on opportunities for crime prevention.

The most striking movement in August 2025 was the 200% increase in 'Other crime', a category encompassing unclassified or hybrid offences that now exceeds the UK average by 275%. This surge, coupled with a 300% rise in anti-social behaviour, contrasts sharply with the 66.7% drop in shoplifting and 71.4% decline in criminal damage and arson. These divergent trends highlight the complexity of local crime dynamics, where seasonal factors appear to amplify certain categories while reducing others. The increase in anti-social behaviour, which rose from two to eight cases, aligns with the influx of holidaymakers during August, a peak tourist month in Dartmouth. Conversely, the sharp decline in shoplifting and criminal damage may reflect heightened police presence or altered consumer and business activity patterns. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common category, accounting for 40% of all crimes, though their rate (3.0 per 1,000) was just 5% above the UK average. This suggests that while localised anomalies are emerging, broader trends in violent crime remain relatively consistent with national data. Residents should be aware that the surge in 'Other crime'—which includes incidents such as unclassified theft or hybrid offences—may signal underreported or emerging criminal activity that deserves closer attention.

Dartmouth's crime rate in August 2025 fell to 7.5 per 1,000 residents, a 13.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 8.7 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the seasonal rhythm of the area, where August typically sees a spike in tourism and a corresponding shift in local activity patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, translating to a monthly exposure of one crime for roughly every 133 residents. This figure provides a tangible sense of the scale of crime relative to the population of 5,307. While the overall rate remains 7.4% below the UK average, the distribution of specific crime types reveals a more complex picture. For instance, the category of 'Other crime'—which includes incidents not neatly classified elsewhere—surpassed the UK average by 275%, highlighting a localised anomaly that merits closer attention. The population-scaled perspective underscores that, despite the drop in the overall rate, the types of crime occurring in Dartmouth are not uniform with national trends. The seasonal context of August, a peak holiday month, likely contributes to fluctuations in certain categories, such as anti-social behaviour, which surged by 300% month-on-month. This suggests that temporary factors, such as increased visitor numbers, may influence crime patterns in ways that are not fully captured by annual averages. The contrast between the overall rate and specific category trends also highlights the importance of granular analysis in understanding local crime dynamics, particularly in a coastal resort like Dartmouth, where tourism and seasonal activity play a significant role.