Crime in Bude, Cornwall: statistics, rates and trends
475 crimes were recorded in Bude, Cornwall in the 12 months to August 2026, 89.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 21% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Bude, Cornwall at a glance
- Crime trends in Bude, Cornwall
- Types of crime in Bude, Cornwall
- Bude, Cornwall compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Bude, Cornwall
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bude, Cornwall
- Demographics of Bude, Cornwall
- Questions about crime in Bude, Cornwall
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (218), shoplifting (64) and anti-social behaviour (56) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,502nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Bude, Cornwall | Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 475 | 41,480 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 89.8 | 71.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -21% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,289 | 583,289 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Bude, Cornwall peaked in the year to August 2024 (656 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2020 (412). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 7%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 475 | 89.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 599 | 113.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 656 | 124.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 510 | 96.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 458 | 86.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 412 | 77.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 509 | 96.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 512 | 96.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 51 |
| July 2026 | 41 |
| June 2026 | 29 |
| May 2026 | 56 |
| April 2026 | 38 |
| March 2026 | 23 |
| February 2026 | 31 |
| January 2026 | 34 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 40 |
| October 2025 | 45 |
| September 2025 | 58 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bude, Cornwall recorded notably more shoplifting (43% above the national rate), and notably less public order (32% below) and anti-social behaviour (31% below). On the year before, shoplifting fell from 119 to 64 and public order fell from 40 to 24.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 218 | 41.2 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Shoplifting | 64 | 12.1 | 8.5 | -46% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 56 | 10.6 | 15.4 | -35% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 39 | 7.4 | 6.7 | -11% |
| Other theft | 39 | 7.4 | 6.4 | -15% |
| Public order | 24 | 4.5 | 6.7 | -40% |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 1.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 4 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Bude, Cornwall; the highest is Launceston South (91.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Lynher (28.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bude, Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow | 308 | 38.2 | -57% |
| Poundstock | 172 | 33.1 | -63% |
| Camelford & Boscastle | 382 | 47.4 | -47% |
| Launceston North & North Petherwin | 385 | 65.8 | -27% |
| Launceston South | 662 | 91.5 | +2% |
| St Teath & Tintagel | 173 | 36.6 | -59% |
| Altarnun & Stoke Climsland | 246 | 34.3 | -62% |
| Lynher | 125 | 28.9 | -68% |
The 10 locations below account for 55% of the crime recorded in Bude, Cornwall over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (103).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 103 |
| On or near Parking Area | 31 |
| On or near Nightclub | 25 |
| On or near Granville Terrace | 17 |
| On or near Primrose Road | 17 |
| On or near Chough Close | 16 |
| On or near Elizabeth Road | 15 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 14 |
| On or near Swallow Close | 13 |
| On or near Belle Vue Avenue | 12 |
Of the 419 crimes in Bude, Cornwall with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 56 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 189 | 45.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 107 | 25.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 67 | 16.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 20 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 11 | 2.6% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 1.0% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Bude, Cornwall has an estimated population of 5,289 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (29%, against 19%), more retired residents (33%, against 22%) and fewer students (4.1%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bude, Cornwall average decile 3.9 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Bude, Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 33.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 22.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 58.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bude, Cornwall a safe place to live?
Bude, Cornwall recorded 89.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,502nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Bude, Cornwall?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 218 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (64).
Is crime in Bude, Cornwall going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bude, Cornwall was down 21% on the year before: 475 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 599 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bude, Cornwall?
About 5,289 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bude, Cornwall?
Bude, Cornwall 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.