Crime in East Devon
Recorded crime in East Devon is 0.5 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 26%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
158,239 residents in 88 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 8/10Low crime
- Living
- 5.4/10Fair
- 5-year change
- +26%more crimes
Crime over 5 years
Up 26% in 5 years Recorded crimes in East Devon, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.5× the England and Wales average. 36 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 71% of the harm here
- Burglary: 12% of the harm here
- Other theft: 5% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 71% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 11 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.1 |
| Burglary | 1.7 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 16.8 |
| Drugs | 1.2 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.4 |
| Other crime | 0.9 |
| Other theft | 3.3 |
| Theft from the person | 0.2 |
| Vehicle crime | 1.5 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4.7 |
| Public order | 2.7 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.3 |
| Shoplifting | 1.8 |
Towns and cities in East Devon
Postcode districts in East Devon
Questions about crime in East Devon
- Is East Devon a safe place to live?
- East Devon scores 8 out of 10 for safety (low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in East Devon?
- Up 26% over 5 years, from 5,341 recorded crimes a year to 6,711.
- What is the most common crime in East Devon?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 17 per 1,000 residents a year.