Great Torrington Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 5,783, October 2023 saw 20 crimes reported in Great Torrington, translating to a crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents. This figure is 56.2% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, marking one of the lowest rates in the country for this area. The breakdown of crimes reveals a distinct pattern: anti-social behaviour (40% of total) was the most common category, followed by violence and sexual offences (30%) and shoplifting (15%). These figures contrast sharply with national trends, where violence and sexual offences typically dominate. The seasonal context of October—darker evenings, Halloween celebrations, and the clocks going back—likely contributed to the prominence of anti-social behaviour, which often rises during periods of reduced visibility and increased social gatherings. While shoplifting and criminal damage saw notable increases, the overall safety profile of Great Torrington remains markedly better than the UK average, suggesting a combination of community cohesion, low population density, and effective local policing. The relatively low property crime rate (25% of total) further reinforces the area's safety, possibly reflecting limited retail presence or robust community engagement in crime prevention.

October 2023 witnessed a 60% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 5 to 8 incidents. This surge aligns with the seasonal context of shorter evenings and Halloween, which may have amplified social interactions in public spaces. Shoplifting saw a 200% jump, increasing from one to three incidents, a figure that may be partly explained by the timing of local retail activity or seasonal shopping patterns. Conversely, violence and sexual offences decreased by 25%, from 8 to 6, a shift that contrasts with the UK average where these offences typically remain stable. Anti-social behaviour in Great Torrington (1.4 per 1,000) is 9% above the UK average of 1.3 per 1,000, highlighting a specific local challenge. Meanwhile, violent crimes in the area are 63% below the UK average, underscoring a safety advantage. For residents, the 30% share of violence-related crimes in the local total offers a concrete data point: while these incidents are relatively rare compared to the UK, they remain a significant portion of the local crime profile.

The crime rate in Great Torrington rose by 11.3% from September 2023's 3.1 per 1,000 to October's 3.5 per 1,000, reflecting a monthly fluctuation that may be influenced by seasonal factors. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day in October, a figure that, while seemingly low, translates to a monthly exposure of one crime for every 289 residents. This ratio places the area in stark contrast to the UK average, where the equivalent figure would be significantly higher. Given the population of 5,783, the 20 crimes reported in October represent a manageable burden for local services, suggesting that community policing and environmental factors may be effectively mitigating risk. The comparison to the UK average—where crime rates are more than double—further emphasizes the area's relative safety, particularly in categories like violence and sexual offences, which are 63% below the national benchmark. These figures, when contextualized within the area's rural character and limited urban infrastructure, highlight a crime profile shaped more by localized social dynamics than by broader national trends.