Crime in East Devon: statistics, rates and trends

7,414 crimes were recorded in East Devon in the 12 months to July 2026, 46.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,587 reports (48% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, East Devon has the 299th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in East Devon was highest in the year to July 2018 (7,877 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (6,715). Over the whole period it fell 6%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in East Devon over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+57%) and bicycle theft (+11%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-38%) and theft from the person (-27%).

Violence and sexual offences in East Devon

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East Devon recorded 3,587 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 48.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in East Devon

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East Devon recorded 776 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in East Devon

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East Devon recorded 741 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in East Devon

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East Devon recorded 559 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Public order in East Devon

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East Devon recorded 454 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in East Devon

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East Devon recorded 311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in East Devon

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East Devon recorded 223 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 57% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in East Devon

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East Devon recorded 202 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in East Devon

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East Devon recorded 187 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in East Devon

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East Devon recorded 180 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in East Devon

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East Devon recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in East Devon

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East Devon recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in East Devon

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East Devon recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in East Devon

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. East Devon recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to East Devon, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East Devon.

52 areas within East Devon, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Exmouth Town had the highest rate (138.2 per 1,000) and Exton (East Devon) the lowest (17.5). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in East Devon over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East Devon over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

East Devon has an estimated population of 158,239. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East Devon sits in decile 6.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to East Devon. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.