Dawlish Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Dawlish recorded a crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents in May 2023, placing it 56.2% below the UK average of 8.0. This figure reflects a continuation of the area’s historically low crime profile, with violent crime remaining a significant portion of reported incidents. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 46.3% of all crimes (19 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (29.3%, 12 cases) and shoplifting (9.8%, 4 cases). The dominance of violent crime in Dawlish’s monthly breakdown contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes and anti-social behaviour typically carry larger shares. Seasonal factors in May—including longer evenings, increased outdoor socialising, and bank holidays—likely contribute to the elevated proportion of violent incidents compared to other months. These patterns align with Dawlish’s character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist activity, where late-night foot traffic and social gatherings may heighten opportunities for violent crime. The low rate of property crimes, particularly vehicle crime (0.1 per 1,000) and burglary (0.1 per 1,000), suggests effective local security measures or a lower density of high-value assets compared to urban centres. While the UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.8 per 1,000, Dawlish’s figure of 1.6 per 1,000 is 42% below that benchmark, indicating a safer environment for residents despite the higher proportion of violent crime in the local breakdown. This discrepancy highlights the importance of context in interpreting crime statistics, as regional differences in policing, demographics, and geography shape outcomes.

May 2023 saw a 38.8% decline in Dawlish’s crime rate compared to April, with the previous month’s rate of 5.6 per 1,000 dropping to 3.5. This reduction was driven by steep decreases in public order offences (85.7% drop from 7 to 1), criminal damage and arson (80% drop from 5 to 1), and burglary (80% drop from 5 to 1). The most notable increase was in drug-related crimes, which rose by 100% (from 0 to 1). Violent crime, while still the largest category (46.3% of total), was 42% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences (1.6 vs 2.8 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour also fell significantly, with its rate (1.0 per 1,000) 25% below the UK average of 1.3. Shoplifting, though lower than the UK average (0.3 vs 0.5 per 1,000), accounted for nearly 10% of all crimes, reflecting the presence of retail areas in Dawlish. For residents, the sharp drop in public order offences may indicate improved community policing or fewer incidents during May’s bank holidays, which often see spikes in disorder. The absence of any increase in property crimes, despite the season’s longer evenings, suggests that local initiatives—such as CCTV coverage or community patrols—may be mitigating risks effectively.

Dawlish’s crime rate in May 2023 (3.5 per 1,000) marked a 38.8% decrease from April’s rate of 5.6, reflecting a sustained downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly one crime per day over the month, a figure that appears modest when compared to larger urban centres but aligns with Dawlish’s rural-adjacent character. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for every 290 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area’s relatively low crime density. With a population of 11,870, this means that the likelihood of any given resident being directly affected by crime is significantly lower than the UK average, which would translate to a higher monthly exposure figure. The contrast between Dawlish and the UK average is most pronounced in violent crime, where the local rate (1.6 per 1,000) is 42% below the national benchmark. This gap may be attributed to Dawlish’s smaller population, which often correlates with lower crime rates, and its coastal location, where tourism and transient populations may dilute the impact of persistent criminal networks. However, the local rate of anti-social behaviour (1.0 per 1,000) remains 25% below the UK average, suggesting that community cohesion or effective local interventions are playing a role. For residents, these figures indicate that Dawlish continues to offer a safer environment compared to the national average, though the higher proportion of violent crime compared to property crimes highlights the need for targeted strategies to address this imbalance.