Tavistock Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Tavistock's overall crime rate for October 2025 stood at 7.3 per 1,000 residents, placing it 5.2% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This position within the national picture contrasts with the local crime profile, where violence and sexual offences accounted for 51.1% of all reported crimes—significantly higher than the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson followed closely, each contributing 13.8% of the total. These figures highlight a distinct pattern in Tavistock, where personal safety concerns dominate over property-related crime. The area’s relatively low property crime rate (24 incidents) compared to violent crime (48 incidents) suggests a different dynamic at play than in larger urban centres. October’s seasonal context—darker evenings, Halloween, and the clocks going back—may partly explain the elevated levels of anti-social behaviour and public order offences, which often surge during periods of reduced visibility and increased social activity. While the UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.7 per 1,000, Tavistock’s rate of 3.7 per 1,000 indicates a localised concentration of such incidents, potentially linked to the area’s character as a historic market town with a mix of residential and commercial spaces. The lower rates for shoplifting (0.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) compared to UK averages may reflect Tavistock’s smaller retail footprint and lower commuter traffic, though these figures could also be influenced by seasonal factors such as reduced footfall during October. The data illustrates a community where interpersonal conflicts and public disorder are more prominent than theft or burglary, a trend that warrants careful monitoring as the year progresses.

October 2025 saw notable shifts in Tavistock’s crime profile, with three categories experiencing significant month-on-month changes. Other crime surged by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents), while criminal damage and arson rose by 116.7% (from 6 to 13). Vehicle crime also increased by 100% (from 1 to 2), suggesting a possible uptick in targeted incidents or changes in local activity patterns. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 25% (from 4 to 3), though it remains well below the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. The crime mix in Tavistock diverges sharply from the UK profile, with violence and sexual offences (3.7 per 1,000) 39% above the national average. This category’s dominance may be influenced by the area’s social dynamics, such as the concentration of older residents in certain parts of the town or the presence of community spaces that see frequent gatherings. Anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, is 21% below the UK average, which could reflect the town’s relatively cohesive community structures or effective local policing efforts. Public order offences, at 0.5 per 1,000, are 6% below the UK rate, due to the smaller scale of nightlife activity in Tavistock compared to larger urban areas. These variations underscore the importance of tailoring crime prevention strategies to local conditions rather than applying blanket national approaches.

Comparing October 2025 to September 2025, Tavistock’s crime rate rose by 64.9%, from 4.4 to 7.3 per 1,000 residents—a significant increase that warrants scrutiny. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 3 crimes per day during the month, a figure that, while modest, reflects the impact of concentrated incidents such as the surge in criminal damage and arson. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 137 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Tavistock within the lower end of the UK spectrum for populated areas. This statistic is particularly meaningful for residents, as it provides a tangible sense of the likelihood of encountering crime in their daily lives. The population context—Tavistock’s 12,838 residents—adds nuance to these figures, with the town’s smaller size amplifying the visibility of each incident. For example, the 13 reported cases of criminal damage and arson in October would be proportionally more impactful in a community of this scale than in a larger city. The previous month’s rate of 4.4 per 1,000 suggests that October’s increase may have been influenced by specific events or seasonal factors, such as the timing of local festivals or the return of students to the area. While the overall rate remains below the UK average, the sharp rise from September to October highlights the need for ongoing analysis to understand the drivers of this fluctuation.