Crime in South Hams: statistics, rates and trends
4,357 crimes were recorded in South Hams in the 12 months to August 2026, 47.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in South Hams at a glance
- Crime trends in South Hams
- Types of crime in South Hams
- South Hams compared with nearby districts
- Areas within South Hams
- Streets with the most crime in South Hams
- What happened after crimes were reported in South Hams
- Demographics of South Hams
- Fly-tipping in South Hams
- Questions about crime in South Hams
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,973), other theft (508) and anti-social behaviour (475) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 292nd of the 302 districts covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | South Hams | Devon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 4,357 | 53,502 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 47.3 | 63.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 92,148 | 842,313 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in South Hams peaked in the year to August 2018 (4,379 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (3,575). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 4,357 | 47.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 4,260 | 46.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,749 | 40.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 3,575 | 38.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 3,695 | 40.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 4,145 | 45.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 4,057 | 44.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 4,379 | 47.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 420 |
| July 2026 | 473 |
| June 2026 | 373 |
| May 2026 | 389 |
| April 2026 | 342 |
| March 2026 | 325 |
| February 2026 | 345 |
| January 2026 | 359 |
| December 2025 | 293 |
| November 2025 | 314 |
| October 2025 | 351 |
| September 2025 | 373 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and vehicle crime (83% below) and drugs (80% below) were well below it. On the year before, other theft rose from 366 to 508 and shoplifting rose from 198 to 265, while drugs fell from 126 to 61 and anti-social behaviour fell from 682 to 475.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,973 | 21.4 | 34.2 | +13% |
| Other theft | 508 | 5.5 | 6.4 | +39% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 475 | 5.2 | 15.4 | -30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 401 | 4.4 | 6.7 | -14% |
| Public order | 302 | 3.3 | 6.7 | +22% |
| Shoplifting | 265 | 2.9 | 8.5 | +34% |
| Burglary | 125 | 1.4 | 3.6 | -22% |
| Other crime | 85 | 0.9 | 2.1 | -21% |
| Vehicle crime | 78 | 0.8 | 5.0 | -9% |
| Drugs | 61 | 0.7 | 3.3 | -52% |
| Possession of weapons | 44 | 0.5 | 1.0 | +13% |
| Theft from the person | 15 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 13 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 12 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest districts have a higher crime rate than South Hams; the highest is Plymouth district (109.5 per 1,000) and the lowest West Devon (44.5).
| District | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs South Hams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torbay | 15,261 | 108.9 | +130% |
| Plymouth | 29,802 | 109.5 | +132% |
| Teignbridge | 8,148 | 58.8 | +24% |
| West Devon | 2,623 | 44.5 | -6% |
| Exeter | 15,017 | 108.5 | +129% |
| East Devon | 7,455 | 47.1 | 0% |
| Mid Devon | 4,941 | 58.1 | +23% |
| Torridge | 3,849 | 55.1 | +17% |
Of the 33 areas within South Hams, Kingsbridge had the highest crime rate (73.3 per 1,000) and Newton Ferrers the lowest (17.8), 4 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbridge | Town | 6,463 | 474 | 73.3 |
| Totnes | Town | 9,135 | 659 | 72.1 |
| Dartmouth | Town | 5,322 | 371 | 69.7 |
| Ivybridge West | Neighbourhood | 7,148 | 437 | 61.1 |
| Salcombe | Town | 1,164 | 71 | 61.0 |
| Dartmouth & East Dart | Neighbourhood | 8,558 | 489 | 57.1 |
| Ivybridge | Town | 11,920 | 626 | 52.5 |
| South Brent | Town | 2,733 | 141 | 51.6 |
| Wembury & Brixton | Neighbourhood | 6,738 | 332 | 49.3 |
| Charterlands | Neighbourhood | 4,208 | 189 | 44.9 |
| Salcombe & Thurlestone | Neighbourhood | 5,173 | 231 | 44.7 |
| Bickleigh & Cornwood | Neighbourhood | 3,120 | 138 | 44.2 |
| Marldon | Town | 2,299 | 101 | 43.9 |
| Marldon & Littlehempston | Neighbourhood | 2,299 | 101 | 43.9 |
| Ivybridge East | Neighbourhood | 4,772 | 189 | 39.6 |
| South Brent | Neighbourhood | 5,226 | 197 | 37.7 |
| Stoke Gabriel | Town | 2,183 | 82 | 37.6 |
| Dartington | Town | 2,275 | 85 | 37.4 |
| Dartington & Staverton | Neighbourhood | 2,275 | 85 | 37.4 |
| Chillington | Town | 1,995 | 71 | 35.6 |
| Stokenham | Neighbourhood | 1,995 | 71 | 35.6 |
| Malborough | Town | 2,060 | 73 | 35.4 |
| Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford | Neighbourhood | 2,886 | 102 | 35.3 |
| Newton & Yealmpton | Neighbourhood | 5,787 | 197 | 34.0 |
| Ermington & Ugborough | Neighbourhood | 4,821 | 162 | 33.6 |
| Modbury | Town | 2,068 | 62 | 30.0 |
| Yealmpton | Town | 2,428 | 70 | 28.8 |
| Bittaford | Town | 3,262 | 94 | 28.8 |
| West Dart | Neighbourhood | 4,631 | 132 | 28.5 |
| Wembury | Town | 1,498 | 41 | 27.4 |
| Allington & Strete | Neighbourhood | 4,051 | 104 | 25.7 |
| Woolwell | Neighbourhood | 2,862 | 68 | 23.8 |
| Newton Ferrers | Town | 1,858 | 33 | 17.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 25% of the crime recorded in South Hams over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (377).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 377 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 175 |
| On or near Supermarket | 103 |
| On or near Coronation Road | 91 |
| On or near Fore Street | 79 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 64 |
| On or near Orion Drive | 59 |
| On or near Hercules Road | 45 |
| On or near Mill Lane | 44 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 42 |
Of the 3,882 crimes in South Hams with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 475 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,753 | 45.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 974 | 25.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 594 | 15.3% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 155 | 4.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 119 | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 70 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 65 | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 60 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 36 | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 27 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 21 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
South Hams has an estimated population of 92,148 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (29%, against 19%), fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%) and more retired residents (32%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up South Hams average decile 6.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | South Hams | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 31.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 39.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 11.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 | 5.5 (England) |
662 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in South Hams in 2024/25 (7.2 per 1,000 residents, against 21.1 across the councils in England that count all incidents), according to the council's return to Defra. Fly-tipping is not in the police figures on this page: fly-tipping in South Hams has the council's figures by place, type of waste and size, and its enforcement actions and fines.
Is South Hams a safe place to live?
South Hams recorded 47.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 292nd of the 302 districts on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in South Hams?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,973 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by other theft (508).
Is crime in South Hams going up or down?
Recorded crime in South Hams was up 2% on the year before: 4,357 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 4,260 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of South Hams?
About 92,148 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers South Hams?
South Hams is policed by Devon & Cornwall.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.