South Hams Crime Rate March 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 92,148, the 224 crimes reported in March 2023 equate to 2.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. This figure is 68.4% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently lower crime profile in South Hams compared to national trends. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, making up 39.7% of all reported incidents — still significantly below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour (18.8%) and other theft (8.0%) followed, with both categories also well below national benchmarks. The seasonal transition to spring, with longer evenings and the clocks changing, may partly explain the distribution of violent crimes, which often peak in areas with increased public activity. South Hams, a largely rural district with a mix of coastal and inland communities, typically sees lower overall crime rates due to its dispersed population and limited urban centres. However, the persistence of violence and sexual offences highlights the need for targeted local interventions, particularly in areas with higher foot traffic or social gatherings. The low property crime rate (28.6% of total crimes) contrasts with UK averages, suggesting that rural characteristics — such as fewer high-street retail hubs or densely populated housing — contribute to this trend. While direct causes, the absence of major urban infrastructure or commuter hubs likely plays a role in maintaining these lower rates. The month’s crime profile underscores the importance of balancing localised policing efforts with broader regional strategies to address specific offence types.

March 2023 saw a significant portion of crimes fall into violent categories, with violence and sexual offences accounting for nearly 40% of the total — a stark contrast to the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. This category’s rate of 1.0 per 1,000 in South Hams is 64% below the national figure, suggesting effective local crime prevention measures or demographic factors such as a lower proportion of younger populations. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.5 per 1,000, was 52% below the UK average, potentially reflecting the area’s rural nature and lower population density, which may limit opportunities for such incidents. The sharp underperformance of shoplifting (80% below the UK average) and vehicle crime (79% below) further illustrates how South Hams’ landscape — with fewer retail centres and commuter parking zones — diverges from typical urban crime patterns. The rate of robbery and possession of weapons was 100% below the UK average, indicating that these more severe offences are rare in the area. While causality, the combination of low population density, limited commercial activity, and the absence of major transport hubs likely contributes to these trends. Residents may find it reassuring that property crimes, including burglary and vehicle crime, are significantly lower than national averages, though the higher proportion of violent offences remains a focus for local authorities.

South Hams recorded 224 crimes in March 2023, translating to roughly 7 crimes per day — a figure that, when scaled to the area’s population of 92,148, equates to one reported crime for every 411 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate highlights the relatively low frequency of crime in the area compared to larger urban centres, where daily crime counts are often much higher. The local context suggests that residents are less likely to encounter crime in their daily lives than those in more densely populated regions. However, the rate of violence and sexual offences, though significantly below the UK average, remains a notable category within the local crime profile. This disparity between South Hams and national trends may be attributed to the area’s rural character, which typically sees fewer concentrated populations or high-traffic zones that could facilitate certain types of crime. The breakdown of offences also reveals that property crimes, which often dominate in urban areas, constitute a smaller share here, reinforcing the idea that the crime profile is shaped by the area’s geographic and demographic characteristics. For residents, the low daily crime count and the relatively infrequent nature of offences may contribute to a sense of safety, even as local authorities continue to monitor and address the specific categories that do occur.