Great Torrington Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The balance between property and violent crime in Great Torrington during May 2025 reveals a shift in local patterns. With 9 violent crimes reported compared to 6 property crimes, violent offences now account for 36% of all incidents, a notable departure from earlier months when property crime dominated. This shift may partly explain the area's 46.9% below the UK average crime rate of 8.1 per 1,000 residents. The most common category, violence and sexual offences, occurred at 1.6 per 1,000 residents—43% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour (28% of total crimes) and public order offences (12% of total) followed, both significantly below national averages. Seasonal factors in May, including extended evenings and bank holidays, likely contribute to increased social interactions, which may explain the prominence of violent and disorderly incidents. While property crime remains relatively low, the concentration of violent offences could reflect local dynamics such as the town's small, close-knit community and limited commercial activity. The overall crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents aligns with historical trends for this built-up area within Torridge, which typically experiences lower crime rates compared to larger urban centres. This pattern is consistent with the area's character as a rural commuter hub with limited nightlife and fewer high-traffic retail zones, which may reduce opportunities for property-related crimes.

May 2025 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories, with public order offences tripling from 0 to 3 (+100%), and burglary and bicycle theft each rising from 0 to 1 (+100%). These increases contrast with an 18.2% decrease in violence and sexual offences (from 11 to 9) and a 50% drop in criminal damage and arson (from 4 to 2). The shift in crime mix highlights a notable imbalance: violent crime now outpaces property crime for the first time this year. Bicycle theft, though only one incident, occurred at a rate 150% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000 residents—a stark outlier in the data. This anomaly may reflect seasonal factors, such as increased cycling during warmer weather or specific local events. Meanwhile, the sharp decline in criminal damage and arson could indicate successful community initiatives or natural fluctuations in seasonal activities. For residents, the rise in public order offences suggests a need for heightened awareness during evenings and weekends, when outdoor socialising increases. The data also underscores the area's overall safety compared to the UK average, with all major crime categories except bicycle theft remaining significantly below national benchmarks.

Great Torrington's crime rate in May 2025 remained stable at 4.3 per 1,000 residents, matching the previous month's figure exactly. This consistency suggests no immediate spikes or declines in overall crime. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 1 crime per day over the 31-day period—a low frequency that contrasts sharply with larger urban centres. When scaled to the population of 5,783 residents, this translates to one reported crime for roughly every 231 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, which typically sees one crime for every 124 residents. The area's small size and rural character likely contribute to this lower density of incidents, as well as the limited opportunities for crimes such as shoplifting or vehicle theft. The comparison also highlights the area's relative safety: all major crime categories except bicycle theft remain significantly below the UK average. For context, the UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.8 per 1,000 residents, while Great Torrington's rate of 1.6 per 1,000 residents is 43% below. These figures reinforce the built-up area's position as one of the safer regions in the UK, though the outlier of bicycle theft underscores the need for targeted awareness around specific local factors influencing this category.