South Hams Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2025, South Hams maintained a crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 50.6% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the district’s relatively low exposure to crime, a trend that has likely been shaped by its geographic and demographic characteristics. The crime profile is dominated by violent offences, which accounted for 43% of all incidents, compared to property crimes at 30% (105 cases). This imbalance between violent and property crime may reflect broader social dynamics, such as the influence of seasonal transitions—October’s darker evenings and the approach of Halloween—on community interactions and criminal activity. Anti-social behaviour, while significantly lower than the UK average, remains the second most common category, highlighting persistent challenges in managing public order. The data also reveals a nuanced relationship between crime types and local factors: for example, shoplifting rates fell sharply, possibly due to increased retail security or seasonal consumer behaviour, while violent crimes remained elevated, suggesting a need for targeted policing strategies. The UK-wide comparison further illustrates South Hams’ exceptional performance in categories like anti-social behaviour (52% below the UK average) and shoplifting (68% below), though possession of weapons rose sharply to 0.1 per 1,000, a figure 43% above the UK average. These patterns may be influenced by the area’s rural character, where smaller communities and limited anonymity could both deter and, in some cases, amplify specific types of criminal activity. The seasonal context—October’s clocks going back and the onset of darker evenings—adds another layer to this analysis, as reduced visibility and increased indoor activity could contribute to shifts in crime types. Overall, the data illustrates a district where violent crime remains a priority concern, but where broader crime prevention efforts have yielded measurable results compared to national benchmarks.

The month-on-month analysis reveals striking shifts in crime dynamics. Possession of weapons surged by 400%, rising from one to five incidents—a sharp increase that may reflect heightened tensions or changes in law enforcement focus. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 45.2%, dropping from 31 to 17 cases, possibly influenced by Halloween preparations or increased retail security measures. Violent crimes continue to dominate, accounting for 43% of all incidents, a balance that contrasts with the UK average where violent crimes make up 40% of the total. This local emphasis on violence and sexual offences—1.6 per 1,000 compared to the UK’s 2.7 per 1,000—suggests a distinct pattern, linked to the area’s demographics or social interactions. Anti-social behaviour, though down 52% from the UK average, remains a notable concern, with 0.6 per 1,000 incidents reported. These figures highlight the need for targeted interventions, particularly in managing weapon-related offences and addressing the root causes of violent crime.

South Hams recorded 351 crimes in October 2025, translating to 11 crimes per day across the district. This daily figure provides a tangible sense of the pace at which incidents occur, though it remains a local metric with no UK-wide counterpart. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 263 residents, a monthly aggregate that highlights the relative rarity of incidents in this area compared to national averages. The crime rate for October (3.8 per 1,000) reflects a 5.9% decrease from the previous month’s 4.1 per 1,000, indicating a slight but consistent downward trend. This reduction may align with seasonal patterns, as October sees darker evenings and the transition from autumn to winter, which can influence both crime types and community activity. The population context further underscores that South Hams, with 92,148 residents, maintains a crime profile significantly below the UK average, a trend that has likely been reinforced by local factors such as community engagement or environmental features that deter criminal activity.