Crime in North Devon: statistics, rates and trends

7,132 crimes were recorded in North Devon in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,024 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, North Devon has the 219th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in North Devon was highest in the year to July 2025 (7,629 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (6,303). Over the whole period it fell 3%, 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 North 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 robbery (+171%) and vehicle crime (+61%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-35%) and drugs (-22%).

Violence and sexual offences in North Devon

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. North Devon recorded 3,024 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 42.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in North Devon

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. North Devon recorded 916 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 12.8% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in North Devon

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. North Devon recorded 706 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in North Devon

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. North Devon recorded 624 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in North Devon

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. North Devon recorded 497 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in North Devon

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. North Devon recorded 453 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in North Devon

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. North Devon recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in North Devon

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. North Devon recorded 169 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in North Devon

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. North Devon recorded 153 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in North Devon

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. North Devon recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 61% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in North Devon

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. North Devon recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in North Devon

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. North Devon recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 171% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in North Devon

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. North Devon recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in North Devon

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. North Devon recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

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

40 areas within North Devon, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Barnstaple Central had the highest rate (387.5 per 1,000) and Bishop's Nympton the lowest (22.1). 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 North Devon over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in North 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.

North Devon has an estimated population of 101,222. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in North Devon sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. 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 North Devon. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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