Dawlish Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

May 2024 saw Dawlish maintain a crime rate of 7.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 7.1% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This built-up area within Teignbridge recorded 93 total crimes, with violence and sexual offences dominating at 50.5% of the total. Anti-social behaviour (21.5%) and criminal damage and arson (12.9%) followed, highlighting a pattern of interpersonal and property-related incidents. Seasonal factors in May—longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—likely contribute to the prominence of violence and anti-social behaviour. While the overall rate remains below the UK average, specific categories like violence and sexual offences (4.0 per 1,000) are 41% above the UK average, suggesting localised pressures that may intersect with the area’s character as a coastal commuter hub with a mix of residential and retail zones. The lower rates for shoplifting (0.2 per 1,000, 69% below UK average) and vehicle crime (0.1 per 1,000, 79% below UK average) align with Dawlish’s relatively low retail density and fewer car parks compared to larger urban centres. This suggests that while public safety remains a concern in certain areas, the broader context of the built-up area’s geography and seasonal rhythms helps shape the crime profile in ways distinct from the national average.

May 2024 marked a 14.8% increase in Dawlish’s crime rate compared to April, rising from 6.8 to 7.8 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend was driven by sharp spikes in criminal damage and arson (+100%), possession of weapons (+100%), and other crime (+100%), with the latter two categories previously unrecorded in the area. Conversely, shoplifting and other theft both fell by 50%, reflecting potential seasonal shifts in retail activity or heightened policing efforts during May’s bank holidays. The violent crime category—accounting for 47 incidents—remains high relative to the UK average (4.0 vs 2.8 per 1,000), a disparity that may be linked to the area’s mix of transient populations and social venues. Anti-social behaviour (20 incidents) is 17% above the UK average, consistent with the impact of longer evenings and increased public gatherings in Dawlish’s coastal and commercial zones. These trends underscore the need for targeted interventions in areas where alcohol-fuelled disputes and vandalism are concentrated, even as other crime types see reductions.

Dawlish’s crime rate in May 2024 rose 14.8% from April’s 6.8 per 1,000, despite remaining below the UK average. This translates to 3 crimes per day on average, or one reported crime for roughly every 128 residents over the course of the month—a figure that highlights the localised intensity of incidents despite the area’s relatively small population (11,870). When compared to the UK average, Dawlish’s overall rate is 7.1% lower, but this masks significant disparities in specific crime types. For instance, the 41% above-average rate for violence and sexual offences (4.0 per 1,000) contrasts sharply with the 69% below-average rate for shoplifting. These differences reflect the built-up area’s unique demographic and geographic profile: while its retail presence may be modest enough to limit shoplifting, its coastal location and commuter function likely contribute to higher interpersonal crime. The 1-in-128 resident exposure rate, though lower than the UK’s national average, still means that every resident faces a measurable risk of encountering crime, particularly in public spaces. This underscores the importance of community-focused policing and targeted initiatives to address the specific drivers of violence and anti-social behaviour in Dawlish during peak social periods.