Tavistock Crime Rate

Crime statistics for Tavistock, West Devon, reveal a crime rate of 59.8 per 1,000 residents between January 2025 and December 2025. This figure is lower than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, and the town enjoys a safety score of 86/100, indicating a generally secure environment. However, the prevalence of certain crime types, particularly violence and sexual offences, warrants attention. While the overall trend shows a positive decrease in crime, with a 14.2% year-on-year reduction, understanding the specific types of offences and their patterns is crucial for maintaining safety and security within the community.

The crime landscape of Tavistock presents a concerning picture, with Violence and Sexual Offences being the most prevalent, accounting for 43.5% of all recorded incidents (334 crimes). Anti-social behaviour follows closely behind at 14.2% (109 crimes), and Criminal Damage and Arson contributes 12.2% (94 crimes). Overall property crime, at 18.3 per 1,000 residents, highlights vulnerabilities within the community. While other theft accounts for 7.2% of incidents (55 crimes), shoplifting represents 6.6% (51 crimes), demonstrating potential issues within the retail sector. The comparatively low rate of burglary (1.9 per 1,000, 15 crimes) suggests targeted security measures may be having some effect, but the high prevalence of violent crime demands further attention.

Crime rates in Tavistock have shown a positive downward trend, decreasing by 14.2% year-on-year. This decrease is reflected in monthly data, which fluctuated throughout 2025. While January saw a rate of 4.0 per 1,000, a peak of 7.3 per 1,000 was observed in October. However, the overall trajectory indicates a move towards a safer environment, suggesting that ongoing crime prevention initiatives are having a positive impact.

How To Keep Safe in Tavistock

Given the prevalence of violence and sexual offences, be mindful of your surroundings, especially when walking alone at night. Avoid poorly lit areas and stick to well-populated routes. Due to the presence of anti-social behaviour, report any suspicious activity to the authorities promptly. Secure your vehicles, especially overnight, by parking in well-lit areas and considering an alarm system. Finally, be vigilant about your home security, ensuring doors and windows are locked, and consider installing security lighting to deter potential intruders.

Crime in Tavistock exhibits patterns influenced by the time of day. Burglary attempts are most frequent between midnight and 6am, comprising 14% of incidents during this period. Theft sees a concentration during afternoon commercial hours, while vehicle crime is more prevalent overnight (11pm-6am). Violence and sexual offences tend to peak during evening hours, particularly on weekends. Understanding these temporal trends can inform targeted preventative measures and enhance community safety.

Compared to surrounding areas, Tavistock’s crime rate presents a mixed picture. Lamerton and Buckland Monachorum report significantly lower crime rates (0.0 per 1,000), suggesting a quieter environment. Horrabridge, however, shares a more comparable rate (33.2 per 1,000), highlighting the variability across West Devon. Mary Tavy's rate (20.7 per 1,000) also indicates a potential area for comparison and shared strategies in crime prevention.

Traditional CCTV systems offer a reactive approach, simply recording incidents after they’ve occurred. Reading crime statistics, like those for Tavistock, is one thing; actively preventing threats is another. Systems like scOS offer a proactive solution, utilising AI to detect potential threats at your property boundary before they escalate. scOS's multi-camera intelligence watches all cameras simultaneously, instantly verifying vehicle registrations via DVLA data, and learns your family's routines to filter out normal activity. The visible presence of professional-grade scOS security can be a powerful deterrent; most burglars make their decision within 60 seconds – the element of surprise, and the perception of a robust security system, can be enough to make them reconsider. If you are looking for real protection, consider an AI-powered system that prevents crime, not just records it.