Crime in Axminster, East Devon: statistics, rates and trends
581 crimes were recorded in Axminster, East Devon in the 12 months to July 2026, 63.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Axminster, East Devon at a glance
- Crime trends in Axminster, East Devon
- Types of crime in Axminster, East Devon
- Axminster, East Devon compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Axminster, East Devon
- What happened after crimes were reported in Axminster, East Devon
- Population and deprivation in Axminster, East Devon
- Questions about crime in Axminster, East Devon
- About this data
581 crimes were recorded in Axminster, East Devon in the 12 months to July 2026, 63.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 302 reports (52% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Axminster, East Devon has the 2,481st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Axminster, East Devon | East Devon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 581 | 7,414 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 63.3 | 46.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 9,173 | 158,239 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Axminster, East Devon was highest in the year to July 2019 (695 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (447). Over the whole period it fell 10%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 581 | 63.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 689 | 75.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 475 | 51.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 447 | 48.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 472 | 51.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 537 | 58.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 695 | 75.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 647 | 70.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 61 |
| June 2026 | 53 |
| May 2026 | 47 |
| April 2026 | 35 |
| March 2026 | 58 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| January 2026 | 60 |
| December 2025 | 48 |
| November 2025 | 34 |
| October 2025 | 53 |
| September 2025 | 32 |
| August 2025 | 58 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Axminster, 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 criminal damage and arson (+22%).
The largest falls were in shoplifting (-61%) and anti-social behaviour (-50%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 302 | 32.9 | 0.96 | +3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 72 | 7.8 | 1.16 | +22% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 60 | 6.5 | 0.43 | -50% |
| Public order | 33 | 3.6 | 0.54 | -28% |
| Other theft | 31 | 3.4 | 0.53 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 2.6 | 0.32 | -61% |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.9 | 0.52 | +13% |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 1.7 | 0.35 | +78% |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.3 | 0.40 | -25% |
| Other crime | 7 | 0.8 | 0.36 | -59% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 0.19 | -57% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 0.22 | -78% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.13 | -75% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Axminster, East Devon
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Axminster, East Devon recorded 302 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 52.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Axminster, East Devon
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Axminster, East Devon recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 12.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Axminster, East Devon
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Axminster, East Devon recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Axminster, East Devon
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Axminster, East Devon recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Axminster, East Devon
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Axminster, East Devon recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Axminster, East Devon
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Axminster, East Devon recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 61% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Axminster, East Devon
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Axminster, East Devon recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Axminster, East Devon
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Axminster, East Devon recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 78% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Axminster, East Devon
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Axminster, East Devon recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Axminster, East Devon
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Axminster, East Devon recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 59% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Axminster, East Devon
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Axminster, East Devon recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Axminster, East Devon
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Axminster, East Devon recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 78% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Axminster, East Devon
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Axminster, East Devon recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 75% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Axminster, East Devon
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Axminster, East Devon recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Axminster, East Devon, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Axminster, East Devon.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Axminster, East Devon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coly Valley | 140 | 29.9 | -53% |
| Seaton | 282 | 43.9 | -31% |
| Beer & Branscombe | 123 | 38.9 | -39% |
| Honiton St Paul's | 356 | 68.6 | +8% |
| Honiton St Michael's | 314 | 44.9 | -29% |
| Dunkeswell & Otterhead | 93 | 19.6 | -69% |
| Sidmouth Sidford | 418 | 59.6 | -6% |
| Ottery St Mary | 391 | 36.5 | -42% |
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 Axminster, East Devon over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 43 |
| On or near Vale Lane | 28 |
| On or near Lynch Close | 24 |
| On or near Lyme Street | 21 |
| On or near Foxhill | 19 |
| On or near Flax Meadow Lane | 18 |
| On or near Macford Court | 18 |
| On or near Silver Street | 15 |
| On or near Cridlake | 14 |
| On or near Ridgway Court | 14 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Axminster, 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 274 | 47.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 112 | 19.3% |
| Under investigation | 73 | 12.6% |
| Not recorded | 60 | 10.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 3.3% |
| Local resolution | 11 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 1.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
Axminster, East Devon has an estimated population of 9,173. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Axminster, East Devon sits in decile 5.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Axminster, East Devon |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 54.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.8% |
| Social rented homes | 15.2% |
| Private rented homes | 16.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 |
Is Axminster, East Devon a safe place to live?
Axminster, East Devon recorded 63.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Axminster, East Devon?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 302 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (72).
Is crime in Axminster, East Devon going up or down?
Recorded crime in Axminster, East Devon was down 16% on the year before: 581 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 689 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Axminster, East Devon?
Axminster, East Devon is policed by Devon & Cornwall. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Axminster, East Devon. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.