South Hams Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of South Hams in July 2023 reveals a distinct emphasis on anti-social behaviour and violence, with these two categories together accounting for 66.8% of all reported crimes. At 2.1 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area's overall crime rate remains significantly lower than the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000, a gap of 74.7%. This pattern is consistent with the area's character as a largely rural district with a mix of coastal communities and smaller towns, where public order issues and interpersonal conflicts may be more prominent than property-related crimes. Anti-social behaviour alone made up 38.4% of all incidents, a figure that is 44% below the UK average for this category. Violence and sexual offences, at 28.4% of total crimes, are 78% below the UK rate, suggesting that while these crimes occur, their frequency is lower than national trends. The seasonal context of July—peak summer, school holidays, and tourism—likely contributes to the prominence of anti-social behaviour, as increased social activity and outdoor events may amplify such incidents. Property crimes, including burglary and vehicle crime, are far less prevalent, with burglary at 2.1% of total crimes and 100% below the UK average. This aligns with the area's lower population density and greater community cohesion, which may reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The data suggests a balance between local social dynamics and the broader rural environment, where community presence and seasonal rhythms shape the crime profile more than urban-centric patterns.

July 2023 saw a 200% increase in public order offences, rising from 3 to 9 incidents—a stark shift that may reflect the impact of summer festivals and increased foot traffic in local areas. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson rose by 66.7%, with 15 incidents reported, marking a significant uptick from the previous month's 9. This could be linked to the heightened outdoor activity typical of July, leading to more incidents of vandalism or arson at events or public spaces. Shoplifting decreased by 28.6% (from 7 to 5), a decline that may be attributed to the seasonal shift in retail focus, with fewer high-value items on display during the summer months. Violence and sexual offences also decreased by 8.5%, from 59 to 54, though this remains 78% below the UK average. The category of 'other crime' fell by 33.3%, with only 2 incidents reported, compared to 3 in June. This suggests some areas of crime may be stabilising, though the overall crime mix remains heavily weighted toward anti-social behaviour and violence. The UK average for anti-social behaviour is 1.4 per 1,000, whereas South Hams recorded 0.8 per 1,000, highlighting a consistent gap that may reflect local community engagement or policing strategies that deter such incidents. These fluctuations underscore the combination of seasonal activity and local crime patterns, with some categories responding to environmental factors while others remain comparatively low.

In comparison to the previous month, July 2023 saw a 5.1% increase in the overall crime rate, rising from 2.0 to 2.1 per 1,000 residents. This small upward shift occurs against a backdrop of generally low crime levels, with the area still operating at 74.7% below the UK average. On a daily basis, South Hams recorded an average of 6 crimes per day in July, a figure that is 14.2% lower than the UK average of 6.9 per day (calculated from the UK rate of 8.3 per 1,000). This daily context provides a tangible measure for residents, illustrating that the likelihood of encountering crime in any given day remains exceptionally low. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for roughly every 485 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is far below the UK average. This statistic, while not directly comparable to national figures, reinforces the area's relative safety. The population context further highlights the significance of these numbers: with 92,148 residents, even a small absolute increase in crime translates to a minimal impact on the population scale. This comparison underscores South Hams' position as a low-crime area, where the combination of rural setting, community dynamics, and seasonal factors contributes to a crime profile that is markedly different from more densely populated regions. The month-on-month change, while statistically significant, remains within a range that suggests stability rather than a dramatic shift in local conditions.