Bideford Crime Rate March 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In Bideford, the crime rate of 7.6 per 1,000 residents in March 2025 translates to a 1-in-131 chance of experiencing a reported crime over the course of the month. This figure is 2.6% below the UK average of 7.8, reflecting a relatively safer environment compared to the national context. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 40% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (17.9%) and shoplifting (11%). These patterns align with the area’s character as a small built-up town where community interactions and local retail activity may contribute to higher rates of interpersonal crime. The seasonal transition to spring, with longer evenings and clock changes, may have influenced the timing of some incidents, though no direct correlation is evident in the data. The balance between property and violent crime remains skewed, with violent offences dominating the landscape. This contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes often make up a larger share of reported incidents. The lower-than-average burglary rate (0.1 per 1,000) suggests that residential areas may benefit from stronger community cohesion or environmental factors that deter such crimes. However, the rise in anti-social behaviour and public order offences highlights ongoing challenges in managing localised disturbances, particularly in public spaces.

March 2025 saw a significant 300% increase in public order offences, jumping from 2 to 8 incidents. This surge may reflect the impact of longer evenings and seasonal social activity, though no direct causal link can be confirmed. Shoplifting also rose by 60%, potentially tied to increased foot traffic in retail areas as the weather improved. Conversely, burglary rates fell by 33.3%, a decline that could be attributed to heightened community vigilance or improved local security measures. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common category, with a rate of 3.0 per 1,000 — 10% above the UK average of 2.7. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, at 1.4 per 1,000, 12% above the national average. These figures suggest that Bideford’s crime profile is shaped by a combination of local social dynamics and seasonal factors, with public spaces and retail areas emerging as key focal points. Meanwhile, categories like theft from the person (0.1 per 1,000) and burglary (0.1 per 1,000) were both significantly below UK averages, indicating that certain crime types are less prevalent in this area compared to the broader population.

Bideford’s crime rate in March 2025 (7.6 per 1,000) marked an 18.9% increase from the previous month’s rate of 6.4, reflecting a notable upward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 5 crimes per day, a figure that may resonate more directly with residents than aggregate monthly statistics. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 131 residents — a monthly exposure rate that provides context for individual risk. When compared to the UK average, Bideford’s overall rate remains slightly lower, but the local breakdown reveals divergent patterns. For instance, the rate of public order offences (0.4 per 1,000) was 27% below the UK average, suggesting that community policing efforts or local norms may mitigate such incidents. However, the rate of criminal damage and arson (0.8 per 1,000) was 40% above the national average, indicating a specific challenge in addressing property-related disturbances. These contrasts highlight the importance of considering both the aggregate rate and the distribution of crime types when assessing local safety. The population-scaled perspective — with 19,048 residents — underscores that even small changes in absolute numbers can have meaningful implications for individual risk perception and community trust in local law enforcement.