Dawlish Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Dawlish’s crime profile in September 2025, making up nearly 60% of all reported crimes. With a total crime rate of 5.5 per 1,000 residents — 25.7% below the UK average of 7.4 — the area shows a marked contrast to national trends. This rate, while lower than the UK average, is driven by a surge in violent incidents, which stand at 3.2 per 1,000, 24% above the UK average for this category. The seasonal context of September — a time when university freshers arrive and school terms begin — likely contributes to this spike in violence, as social interactions intensify and nightlife activity increases. Anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, remains a persistent concern, though it falls significantly below UK averages. The town’s relatively low property crime rate, with only 13 incidents compared to 38 violent crimes, suggests a focus on community safety efforts that may be effective in deterring theft and burglary. However, the dominance of violence highlights a need for targeted interventions in areas where incidents are concentrated, such as pubs or transport hubs. This pattern aligns with the character of Dawlish as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist areas, where social tensions and alcohol-related disputes may escalate during the transition from summer to autumn.

September 2025 saw a 100% increase in public order offences, rising from 2 to 4 incidents, and a 50% rise in other theft, from 4 to 6. These shifts suggest a possible uptick in disturbances linked to the start of the academic year, as students and new residents adjust to local norms. Conversely, other crime dropped by 83.3%, criminal damage and arson fell by 80%, and anti-social behaviour decreased by 53.3%, indicating that some previously high-profile issues may have been addressed through policing or community initiatives. Violence and sexual offences, while remaining the most common category, are 24% above the UK average for this type, a stark contrast to the area’s overall lower crime rate. This discrepancy underscores the need for focused strategies to tackle violent crime, which appears to be a localised challenge. A useful insight for residents is the significant reduction in criminal damage and arson, which may reflect seasonal factors — such as reduced outdoor activity as nights grow darker — or enhanced fire safety measures in public spaces.

Dawlish’s crime rate in September 2025 (5.5 per 1,000) marks a 38.1% decline from the previous month’s rate of 8.9, reflecting a substantial drop in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day, a figure that, while modest, highlights the need for continuous vigilance. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 183 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of criminal exposure within the local population. Compared to the UK average, Dawlish’s rate is lower, but this contrast is most pronounced in property crimes, where burglary, vehicle crime, and shoplifting all fall well below national averages. However, the area’s violent crime rate remains elevated relative to the UK, suggesting a divergence in local challenges compared to other parts of the country. With a population of 11,870, the impact of these figures is distributed across a relatively small community, where each incident is more likely to be known to multiple residents. This density may contribute to both the visibility of crime and the potential for community-driven solutions to emerge, particularly as the drop in property crimes indicates that some preventative measures are already showing results.