Great Torrington Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 5,783 residents, 26 crimes reported in October 2024 equate to 4.5 crimes per 1,000 people — a figure 44.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This places Great Torrington among the safest areas in the country for this period. The most frequent crimes were violence and sexual offences (9 incidents, 34.6% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (6, 23.1%) and other theft (2, 7.7%). These patterns align with the area's character as a small built-up community within a rural district, where limited retail density and transient visitor activity may contribute to the crime mix. Seasonal factors in October — including darker evenings after the clocks went back and the Halloween period — could influence patterns of anti-social behaviour and minor thefts. The low overall rate suggests that community cohesion and low population density likely play a role in maintaining safety, though the concentration of violent crimes highlights specific vulnerabilities requiring attention.

October saw sharp increases in several categories: anti-social behaviour surged by 200% (from 2 to 6 incidents), while other theft and possession of weapons both rose by 100% (from 1 to 2 each). These jumps contrast with declines in public order offences (-66.7%) and criminal damage and arson (-33.3%). The violent crime category, which accounted for 34.6% of all incidents, remained 40% below the UK average (2.7 vs 3.4 per 1,000). Drugs offences were 54% above the UK average (0.4 vs 0.3 per 1,000), and possession of weapons was 186% above (0.2 vs 0.1 per 1,000). These anomalies suggest local factors — such as the small population size amplifying rare incidents — may distort comparisons. For residents, the 200% increase in anti-social behaviour is a concrete issue to monitor, particularly as it may relate to seasonal gatherings or transient populations during October.

The crime rate in October (4.5 per 1,000) marks a 53.1% increase from September's 2.9 per 1,000, though it remains well below the UK average. Daily, the area experienced roughly one crime per day — a pace that, while low, reflects the small population scale. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 222 residents, a figure that contextualises the exposure in terms of community size. With 5,783 residents, the 26 crimes represent less than 0.5% of the population, a stark contrast to the UK's average where 8.1 crimes per 1,000 would equate to over 450 incidents in a similar-sized area. This disparity underscores Great Torrington's position as a low-crime locale, though the recent upward trend in specific categories warrants scrutiny. The population-scaled perspective shows that while the overall risk is minimal, targeted issues like anti-social behaviour and weapons possession may require proportionate local responses.