Dawlish Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Dawlish's overall crime rate for January 2024 stood at 5.6 per 1,000 residents, marking a 24.3% reduction compared to the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This figure places the area significantly below the national benchmark, reflecting a safer-than-average environment. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 51.5% of all reported incidents (34 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (12.1%) and public order offences (9.1%). The seasonal context of January—characterised by post-holiday periods, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall—likely contributes to the observed patterns, with fewer outdoor crimes than might be expected in busier months. While the rate of violent crime remains high in absolute terms, its share of total crimes suggests a concentration of incidents in specific areas or demographics. The lower-than-UK-average rates for property crimes such as burglary (17% below) and vehicle crime (40% below) may reflect the area's character as a smaller built-up area with limited commercial activity compared to larger urban centres. However, the higher-than-average rate for drugs offences (43% above UK average) indicates a potential need for targeted interventions in specific community sectors.

January 2024 saw a stark increase in criminal damage and arson, surging by 400% from 1 to 5 incidents—a jump that may reflect the impact of winter weather on infrastructure or heightened tensions in local communities. Concurrently, shoplifting incidents fell by 85.7% (from 7 to 1), possibly linked to reduced retail activity during the post-holiday period. The category of 'other crime' also rose sharply by 100%, with one reported incident, suggesting potential underreporting or shifts in criminal activity patterns. While violence and sexual offences remained the dominant category, their rate of 2.9 per 1,000 was 12% above the UK average, indicating a need for continued focus on community safety initiatives. Conversely, anti-social behaviour (29% below UK average) and criminal damage (30% below) were significantly lower than national figures, reinforcing the area's relatively safer profile in these specific areas. Residents should be particularly vigilant regarding the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson, which may signal emerging risks tied to environmental factors or seasonal pressures.

Dawlish's crime rate in January 2024 (5.6 per 1,000) represented a 3.2% increase from the previous month's rate of 5.4 per 1,000, though it remains well below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 2 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that provides context for local residents assessing risk levels. When scaled to the population of 11,870, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 180 residents—a relatively low frequency compared to larger urban areas. This statistic, however, should be interpreted alongside the month-on-month rise, which may reflect temporary factors such as seasonal transitions or local events. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that while Dawlish's overall crime rate is low, the concentration of violent crimes (51.5% of total) suggests that certain subgroups or locations within the area may face higher risks. The comparison to the UK average underscores the area's generally safer profile, but the 3.2% increase from December 2023 indicates a need for monitoring trends over subsequent months to determine whether this reflects a sustained shift or a short-term fluctuation.