Great Torrington Crime Rate

Great Torrington is a safe and historic town with an overall crime rate of 63.0 per 1,000 residents, which is considerably lower than the UK average of 93.1. This high level of safety is further evidenced by its safety score of 85/100, well above the national average of 78. While the area is secure, there has been a notable increasing trend in crime, with a 24.2% rise year-over-year. This data provides a clear picture of the local environment, indicating that while Great Torrington remains a safer-than-average place to live, recent shifts in crime patterns warrant continued awareness and effective community safety measures.

In Great Torrington, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which constitute 42.0% of all reported incidents, or 26.5 crimes per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is also significant at 20.3%, followed by criminal damage and arson at 9.6%. Property crime overall—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, shoplifting, and other thefts—occurs at a rate of 15.7 per 1,000 people. Shoplifting is a notable component of this, making up 7.1% of the town's total crime. While the burglary rate is exceptionally low at just 1.1% of all offences, the combined property crime figures suggest that residents should remain mindful of opportunistic theft and damage to property, even in an area with a high overall safety score.

The crime trend in Great Torrington is currently increasing, with a 24.2% rise year-over-year. Monthly data shows that the crime rate per 1,000 residents reached its highest point in September 2025 at 6.6, followed by August at 6.1. The lowest crime levels were observed in December 2024, with a rate of 3.6. While the overall crime rate remains well below the national average, the consistent upward trend over the past year suggests that the area is experiencing more frequent incidents than in previous periods. This highlights the importance of proactive security measures for residents to ensure their homes and property remain protected as local crime patterns evolve.

How To Keep Safe in Great Torrington

The most common crime in Great Torrington is violence and sexual offences. While the town is generally safe, it is important to take sensible precautions to protect yourself:

1. When walking at night, stick to well-lit areas and familiar routes, and avoid taking shortcuts through unlit parks or alleys.
2. Be aware of your surroundings in the town centre, particularly during the evening and on weekends when anti-social behaviour may be more prevalent.
3. Keep your personal belongings secure and out of sight when in public places to prevent opportunistic theft.
4. If you witness anti-social behaviour or suspicious activity, report it to the local authorities to help them maintain the town's high safety standards.
5. Ensure your home is clearly visible from the street by keeping hedges trimmed, which reduces cover for potential intruders and increases the effectiveness of community watch.

Crime timing in Great Torrington reveals distinct trends throughout the day. Morning and afternoon periods are dominated by theft, making up 33% and 37% of incidents respectively, which correlates with daytime commercial activity. As the day transitions into the evening, 'other' crime types, including anti-social behaviour, rise to 74% of the total. The night-time hours (12am - 6am) see a significant shift; although the total number of crimes is lower, vehicle crime reaches its peak intensity at 23% of reported night-time incidents, and burglary accounts for 10%. This suggests that while daytime is prone to theft, the late-night hours carry a higher relative risk for vehicle and property-related offences.

Great Torrington sits in a relatively safe pocket of North Devon. When compared to Bideford, which has a crime rate of 92.1, Great Torrington (63.0) is significantly more secure. However, it is more active than the very small neighbouring settlements of Littleham, Petrockstowe, and Dolton, all of which have recorded crime rates of 0.0 due to their low populations. For residents, Great Torrington offers a balance between having town amenities and maintaining a safety profile that is much better than the regional average for larger urban centres.

Great Torrington's property crime rate of 15.7 per 1,000 residents indicates a low but present risk for homeowners. In an area where crime is increasing by 24.2%, relying on traditional, reactive security is no longer enough. Standard CCTV cameras merely provide evidence after your property has been violated. To truly protect your home, proactive security like scOS is necessary. scOS uses AI to monitor your property boundaries in real-time, detecting threats before they become incidents. By identifying unauthorised individuals and triggering autonomous responses like turning on lights or sounding alerts, scOS prevents the crime from happening in the first place. In a town like Great Torrington, where burglary is rare but other thefts and vehicle crimes occur, a system that prevents intrusions before they escalate is the most effective way to maintain the safety of your home and family.