Paignton Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Paignton's crime profile in January 2026, accounting for over half of all reported crimes. With a total crime rate of 5.9 per 1,000 residents, the area recorded 397 crimes across its population of 67,912, placing it 13.2% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This discrepancy, while statistically significant, contrasts with the localised dominance of violent crime, which stood at 3.2 per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 2.5 per 1,000. The seasonal context of January—marked by post-holiday lulls, reduced retail footfall, and shorter days—likely contributes to this pattern, with fewer opportunities for property-related crimes but persistent challenges in managing interpersonal violence. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.5 per 1,000, remained lower than the UK average, suggesting effective community interventions or policing strategies in this area. Meanwhile, shoplifting and public order offences fell well below national levels, with shoplifting incidents at 0.3 per 1,000 compared to the UK's 0.6 per 1,000. This may reflect the area's coastal character, where seasonal tourism patterns and local retail dynamics influence crime trends. The data underscores a combination of local demographics, geography, and seasonal factors, with violent crime emerging as the defining challenge for Paignton's crime profile this month.

Violence and sexual offences accounted for 54.2% of total crimes in January, significantly exceeding the UK average for this category by 28%. This stark contrast highlights a unique local challenge, with the rate of 3.2 per 1,000 being higher than the national 2.5 per 1,000. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell 46% below the UK average, with just 0.5 per 1,000 reported compared to the national 0.9 per 1,000. Month-on-month changes revealed a 100% increase in theft from the person, rising from zero to one incident, while vehicle crime dropped by 53.3% as 15 incidents in December fell to seven in January. This shift may reflect seasonal patterns, with fewer opportunities for vehicle-related crimes during colder months. Burglary also decreased by 47.1%, from 17 to nine incidents, likely due to reduced holiday-related activity and increased indoor time.

Paignton's crime rate in January 2026 fell to 5.9 per 1,000 residents, a 5.2% decrease from the previous month's 6.2 per 1,000. This decline aligns with typical seasonal patterns in coastal towns, where reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours curtail opportunities for certain crimes. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 171 residents, reflecting a relatively low level of criminal activity compared to national averages. On a daily basis, Paignton saw approximately 13 crimes reported, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure in practical terms. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the local rate remains 13.2% below the UK average, suggesting that factors such as community engagement or local policing strategies may be contributing to this sustained gap. These figures, when combined with the month-on-month reduction, indicate a consistent trend of lower crime incidence during the winter months in this area.