Is Ilfracombe a safe place to live?

Ilfracombe scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.6 times the North Devon average.

Is crime going up or down in Ilfracombe?

Up 70% over 5 years, from 619 recorded crimes a year to 1,052.

What is the most common crime in Ilfracombe?

The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 39 per 1,000 residents a year.

How does crime in Ilfracombe compare with North Devon?

Crime severity in Ilfracombe is 1.6 times the North Devon average.

IlfracombeTown

Crime in Ilfracombe

Recorded crime in Ilfracombe is 1.6 times the North Devon average and 1.1 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 70%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Ilfracombe: about 9,863 residents in 8 neighbourhoods.

Safety: 3/10Above average crime
Living: 5.9/10Fair
5-year change: +70%more crimes
vs the council: 1.6×the North Devon average

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Neighbourhoods by Safety

1 = least safe, 10 = safest. Grey: no score. Select a neighbourhood to open it on the map.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Ilfracombe.

Crime over 5 years

Up 70% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Ilfracombe, anti-social behaviour left out.

What is recorded

Crime severity: 1.6× the North Devon average (1.1× the England and Wales average). 86 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

Violence and sexual offences: 71% of the harm here
Burglary: 10% of the harm here
Drugs: 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: 30 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	0.5
Burglary	3.5
Violence and sexual offences	38.7
Drugs	3.8
Possession of weapons	1.0
Other crime	1.8
Other theft	6.5
Theft from the person	0.6
Vehicle crime	2.6
Criminal damage and arson	11.6
Public order	6.7
Bicycle theft	0.2
Shoplifting	8.5

Postcode districts in Ilfracombe

EX34

Nearby towns

Council: North Devon

Questions about crime in Ilfracombe

Is Ilfracombe a safe place to live?: Ilfracombe scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.6 times the North Devon average.
Is crime going up or down in Ilfracombe?: Up 70% over 5 years, from 619 recorded crimes a year to 1,052.
What is the most common crime in Ilfracombe?: The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 39 per 1,000 residents a year.
How does crime in Ilfracombe compare with North Devon?: Crime severity in Ilfracombe is 1.6 times the North Devon average.