Torbay Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Torbay during February 2026 reveals a strikingly imbalanced distribution of offence types, with violent crimes dominating the landscape. At 7.7 crimes per 1,000 residents, Torbay's overall crime rate sits 20.3% above the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This disparity is most pronounced in the category of violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 48.2% of all reported crimes. This figure is 59% higher than the UK average of 2.3 per 1,000, highlighting a significant divergence in local patterns. The dominance of violent crime contrasts with the UK-wide trend where anti-social behaviour typically forms a larger share of total offences. While Torbay's anti-social behaviour rate (0.8 per 1,000) is 12% below the UK average (0.9 per 1,000), the local context of Torbay's coastal location and mixed urban-rural character likely influences these patterns. The winter month of February, with its typically low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull, may have contributed to the concentration of violent incidents in indoor spaces such as pubs and community centres. This aligns with broader UK data showing that violent crime rates often peak during colder months, potentially linked to increased indoor gatherings and alcohol consumption. The relative underrepresentation of property crimes (331 total, or 30.6% of all crimes) compared to the UK average suggests a possible focus on interpersonal conflict over material theft in this area, though this remains a speculative interpretation requiring further analysis.

February 2026 saw significant month-on-month fluctuations in Torbay's crime profile, with robbery incidents surging by 160% (from 5 to 13 cases) – the most dramatic increase recorded. This spike, combined with a 17.2% rise in burglary (29 to 34 cases), suggests a potential shift in criminal activity patterns during the winter season. Conversely, bicycle theft plummeted by 60% (from 5 to 2 cases), possibly reflecting reduced outdoor activity during the colder month. The decrease in possession of weapons offences (-36.4%, from 22 to 14 cases) and other crime (-32.3%, from 31 to 21 cases) indicates some areas of local law enforcement success. Torbay's violent crime rate (3.7 per 1,000) remains 59% above the UK average, while anti-social behaviour (0.8 per 1,000) is 12% below the national figure. These divergences highlight a unique local dynamic where interpersonal violence is concentrated compared to other UK areas. For residents, the most immediate concern appears to be the sharp rise in robbery, which saw a 160% increase from the previous month – a figure that would be of particular interest to local businesses and community leaders.

Torbay's crime rate remained stable in February 2026 compared to the previous month (7.7 per 1,000, 0.8% change), but this figure continues to sit 20.3% above the UK average. Locally, this translates to approximately 39 crimes reported per day in Torbay, a figure that, while seemingly high, must be contextualised within the area's population of 140,126 residents. Over the course of the month, 1 crime was reported for every 130 residents – a monthly exposure rate that, while not extreme, remains a tangible concern for local communities. When compared to the UK average, Torbay's crime profile reveals distinct patterns: while violent crime dominates locally (48.2% of total), the UK average sees anti-social behaviour as the most common category. This divergence may reflect Torbay's unique mix of urban coastal towns and rural hinterlands, where interpersonal conflict tends to escalate more readily than in more densely populated urban centres. The population-scaled perspective also shows that Torbay's violent crime rate (3.7 per 1,000) is 59% above the UK average, yet its burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) is 20% below the national figure – a paradox that suggests local factors such as community cohesion or policing strategies may be influencing these outcomes.