Crime in West Devon
Recorded crime in West Devon is 0.4 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 18%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
58,923 residents in 32 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 8/10Low crime
- Living
- 4.5/10Fair
- 5-year change
- +18%more crimes
Crime over 5 years
Up 18% in 5 years Recorded crimes in West Devon, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.4× the England and Wales average. 34 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 71% of the harm here
- Burglary: 11% 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 | 16.2 |
| Drugs | 1.2 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.3 |
| Other crime | 1.3 |
| Other theft | 3.3 |
| Theft from the person | 0.2 |
| Vehicle crime | 1.4 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4.7 |
| Public order | 2.4 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.1 |
| Shoplifting | 1.4 |
Towns and cities in West Devon
Postcode districts in West Devon
Questions about crime in West Devon
- Is West Devon a safe place to live?
- West 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 West Devon?
- Up 18% over 5 years, from 2,014 recorded crimes a year to 2,369.
- What is the most common crime in West Devon?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 16 per 1,000 residents a year.