South Hams Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in South Hams during September 2025, accounting for 39.4% of all reported crimes. This category, at 1.6 per 1,000 residents, was 38% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently lower rate of violent crime in the area. The overall crime rate for the month was 4.1 per 1,000 residents, a figure 44.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, indicating South Hams as a relatively safe locality compared to the national context. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, making up 15.8% of total crimes, with a rate 49% below the UK average. These patterns may be influenced by the area’s character, likely a mix of rural and semi-rural communities with lower population density, which can reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. Seasonal factors also played a role, as the transition into autumn and the start of the academic year may have contributed to increased social interactions in public spaces, driving up incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour. However, the absence of major urban centres or high-traffic retail hubs in South Hams may help explain the lower rates of property crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime, which were 64% and 75% below UK averages, respectively. This suggests that the area’s geographic and demographic profile, combined with seasonal rhythms, shapes its unique crime profile in ways that diverge from more densely populated regions.

September 2025 saw a 100% increase in robbery cases, rising from one to two incidents, a stark shift that may reflect heightened vulnerability during the transition to darker evenings. Shoplifting also surged by 47.6%, with 31 incidents reported, significantly higher than the 21 in August. This increase aligns with the seasonal context of back-to-school and university freshers, potentially driving demand in retail areas. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 50%, dropping from 12 to six incidents, due to reduced car usage during the academic term or improved security measures. Anti-social behaviour, though still lower than the UK average (49% below), remained a notable concern, with 59 incidents reported. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic nature of crime patterns in South Hams, where seasonal rhythms and community activity appear to influence specific categories more than others.

South Hams recorded a crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents in September 2025, a 12.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 4.6. This decline suggests a possible seasonal shift, with shorter evenings and the start of the academic term potentially reducing opportunities for certain crimes. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 12 crimes per day, a figure that, while specific to South Hams, provides a clear snapshot of local activity. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 247 residents, a monthly aggregate that contextualises the scale of crime in relation to the population. This rate remains significantly below the UK average, highlighting South Hams as an area with consistently lower crime exposure compared to the national picture. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that residents here are statistically less likely to experience crime than the average UK resident, though local factors such as community engagement or policing strategies may contribute to this trend.