Okehampton Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

February 2024 marked a notable shift in Okehampton’s crime profile, with the overall crime rate standing at 8.0 per 1,000 residents — 12.7% above the UK average of 7.1. This figure, while not extreme, underscores a persistent challenge for the built-up area within West Devon, a region typically characterized by low population density and a mix of rural and urban influences. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 32.5% of all incidents (25 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (24.7%, 19 cases) and criminal damage and arson (10.4%, 8 cases). These patterns align with seasonal trends in February, a winter month when outdoor activity diminishes and indoor conflicts may intensify. The rate of violence in Okehampton (2.6 per 1,000) is 4% above the UK average, a small but measurable divergence that may reflect local factors such as the area’s proximity to nearby towns and the potential for transient populations to contribute to incidents. Anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, is 90% above the UK average, suggesting a significant localised issue that could be linked to the area’s character as a commuter hub or its reliance on tourism during other seasons. The relatively low levels of burglary (1.3% of total crimes) and theft from the person (1.3%) — both below UK averages — indicate that property crime remains less prevalent than violent and disorder-related offences. This balance between crime types may be influenced by Okehampton’s geographical context: a small town with limited retail and nightlife activity, which reduces opportunities for certain categories of crime while leaving others, such as anti-social behaviour, more exposed. The seasonal context of February — a pre-spring lull with shorter days and colder temperatures — likely contributes to reduced outdoor crime but may amplify indoor disputes and incidents of anti-social behaviour. These observations, while consistent with broader trends, highlight the need for targeted local responses that address the specific dynamics of this built-up area.

February 2024 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with possession of weapons surging by 500% (from 1 to 6 cases) — a jump that far outpaces the UK average for this category (0.1 per 1,000, 757% above). This spike, though statistically extreme, may be tied to seasonal factors such as increased indoor gatherings or the closure of certain venues during winter, creating environments where weapons are more likely to be carried or discovered. Concurrently, shoplifting rose by 400% (from 1 to 5 cases), a figure that, while still below the UK average (0.5 per 1,000), suggests a potential shift in retail crime patterns. This could be linked to the timing of February, a month before the Easter and summer shopping seasons, when opportunistic theft might be more prevalent. In contrast, burglary fell by 50% (from 2 to 1 case), aligning with the broader UK trend for this category (0.3 per 1,000) and reflecting the reduced foot traffic in Okehampton during colder months. Anti-social behaviour also rose sharply by 137.5% (from 8 to 19 cases), making it the second-largest category by volume and 90% above the UK average (1.1 per 1,000). This increase may be connected to the area’s built-up nature, where higher population density during certain periods could exacerbate disputes or conflicts. The rate of public order offences (0.4 per 1,000) is 18% below the UK average, indicating that while anti-social behaviour is a concern, other forms of public disorder remain relatively contained. For residents, the most immediately relevant insight is the 500% rise in weapon possession, which could signal a need for heightened awareness of local safety measures or community engagement initiatives.

Okehampton’s crime rate in February 2024 (8.0 per 1,000) represents a 40% increase from the previous month’s rate of 5.7 per 1,000, a jump that places the area firmly in the spotlight for local authorities and residents alike. On a daily basis, this translates to approximately 3 crimes reported each day in February — a figure that, while modest on its own, becomes more significant when contextualised within the area’s population of 9,614 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 125 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, while not alarmingly high, is a measurable increase from the previous month. This rate is particularly notable when compared to the UK average, as Okehampton’s overall crime rate remains consistently above the national benchmark, a trend that has persisted for several months. The population-scaled perspective is crucial here: with a built-up area of around 10,000 residents, the impact of each crime is felt more acutely than in larger urban centres where rates are spread across more people. This dynamic may explain why certain categories, such as anti-social behaviour and violence, are elevated in Okehampton relative to the UK average. For instance, the 90% gap between Okehampton’s anti-social behaviour rate (2.0 per 1,000) and the UK average (1.1 per 1,000) suggests that even a relatively small number of incidents can skew local statistics. This underscores the importance of community-based interventions tailored to the specific needs of a small built-up area, where the concentration of residents and limited infrastructure may amplify the effects of crime on daily life.