Dawlish Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 saw Dawlish maintain a crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents, marking a 14.1% reduction compared to the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This performance aligns with the area's consistently lower-than-average crime profile, though seasonal factors such as Christmas shopping, extended evenings, and holiday-related absences from homes likely influenced patterns. Violent crimes accounted for 47.2% of all reported incidents, with 34 cases of violence and sexual offences recorded. This category, while higher than the UK average for this type (2.6 per 1,000), remains proportionally lower when considering Dawlish's overall crime rate. Anti-social behaviour followed with 13 incidents (18.1% of total), and criminal damage and arson contributed 8 cases (11.1%). The seasonal context of December—characterised by heightened retail activity and reduced daylight—may have amplified certain crime types while potentially deterring others through increased community presence or festive events. However, direct causal links, and localised factors such as Dawlish's coastal proximity or commuter demographics could also play roles in shaping these trends. The balance between property and violent crime in December shifted slightly, with violent crime making up over half of all reports, a trend consistent with other months in the area.

December 2024 brought significant fluctuations in specific crime categories. Shoplifting surged by 400% month-on-month, rising from 1 to 5 incidents. This increase, while notable, still left Dawlish's shoplifting rate at 0.4 per 1,000—30% below the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 38.5% (from 13 to 8), and anti-social behaviour dropped by 31.6% (from 19 to 13). These decreases may reflect seasonal dynamics, such as reduced outdoor activity during darker evenings or temporary closures of public spaces. Violent crime remained the most prevalent category.9 per 1,000 was 13% above the UK average for this type. Other theft, however, saw a 26% reduction compared to the UK average, with 5 incidents reported. Public order offences also fell 33% below the national average, potentially linked to localised efforts during the festive season. For residents, the sharp rise in shoplifting offers a tangible example of how specific retail environments—such as high-street stores or market stalls—can become focal points for certain crime types during peak shopping periods.

Dawlish's crime rate in December 2024 (6.1 per 1,000) marked a 4.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.3 per 1,000. This slight downward trend contrasts with the 14.1% gap between Dawlish and the UK average, which remained stable at 7.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day in December, a figure that may feel more tangible for residents than aggregate statistics. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 165 residents, translating to a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average for most areas. With a population of 11,870, the scale of Dawlish's crime numbers remains relatively small, though the concentration of violent crime (47.2% of total incidents) highlights areas for targeted local action. The comparison to the previous month underscores the volatility of monthly crime trends, with some categories fluctuating significantly while others remain stable. For context, the daily crime count and population-scaled exposure provide a more immediate sense of how crime manifests in everyday life, even as broader national comparisons offer a benchmark for assessing Dawlish's performance.