Crime in St Peter and the Waterfront: statistics, rates and trends
7,816 crimes were recorded in St Peter and the Waterfront in the 12 months to July 2026, 388.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St Peter and the Waterfront at a glance
- Crime trends in St Peter and the Waterfront
- Types of crime in St Peter and the Waterfront
- St Peter and the Waterfront compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St Peter and the Waterfront
- What happened after crimes were reported in St Peter and the Waterfront
- Population and deprivation in St Peter and the Waterfront
- Questions about crime in St Peter and the Waterfront
- About this data
7,816 crimes were recorded in St Peter and the Waterfront in the 12 months to July 2026, 388.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,038 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St Peter and the Waterfront has the 35th highest crime rate.
| Measure | St Peter and the Waterfront | Plymouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 7,816 | 29,674 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 388.4 | 109.1 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 20,126 | 272,067 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St Peter and the Waterfront was highest in the year to July 2018 (8,053 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (6,154). 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 7,816 | 388.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 7,721 | 383.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 6,265 | 311.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 6,352 | 315.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 6,154 | 305.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 6,958 | 345.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 7,833 | 389.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 8,053 | 400.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 808 |
| June 2026 | 689 |
| May 2026 | 732 |
| April 2026 | 693 |
| March 2026 | 653 |
| February 2026 | 566 |
| January 2026 | 610 |
| December 2025 | 590 |
| November 2025 | 613 |
| October 2025 | 626 |
| September 2025 | 593 |
| August 2025 | 643 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St Peter and the Waterfront 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. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting.
The largest increases were in robbery (+38%) and public order (+20%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-31%) and drugs (-27%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,038 | 150.9 | 4.41 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,455 | 72.3 | 4.71 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 742 | 36.9 | 4.45 | +10% |
| Public order | 579 | 28.8 | 4.33 | +20% |
| Other theft | 524 | 26.0 | 4.07 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 513 | 25.5 | 3.76 | +4% |
| Drugs | 280 | 13.9 | 4.26 | -27% |
| Burglary | 133 | 6.6 | 1.87 | +5% |
| Possession of weapons | 128 | 6.4 | 6.55 | -9% |
| Vehicle crime | 123 | 6.1 | 1.24 | -25% |
| Other crime | 99 | 4.9 | 2.33 | -14% |
| Robbery | 91 | 4.5 | 3.35 | +38% |
| Theft from the person | 78 | 3.9 | 2.29 | -26% |
| Bicycle theft | 33 | 1.6 | 1.99 | -31% |
Violence and sexual offences in St Peter and the Waterfront
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 3,038 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (150.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 38.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St Peter and the Waterfront
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 1,455 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (72.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 18.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in St Peter and the Waterfront
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 742 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St Peter and the Waterfront
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 579 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St Peter and the Waterfront
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 524 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St Peter and the Waterfront
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 513 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St Peter and the Waterfront
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 280 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St Peter and the Waterfront
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St Peter and the Waterfront
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 128 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St Peter and the Waterfront
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St Peter and the Waterfront
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 99 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St Peter and the Waterfront
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in St Peter and the Waterfront
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St Peter and the Waterfront
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St Peter and the Waterfront, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St Peter and the Waterfront.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St Peter and the Waterfront |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake | 1,375 | 111.6 | -71% |
| Stoke | 1,709 | 124.3 | -68% |
| Sutton and Mount Gould | 1,757 | 117.7 | -70% |
| Devonport | 2,906 | 174.6 | -55% |
| Peverell | 824 | 59.7 | -85% |
| Compton | 1,084 | 86.5 | -78% |
| Efford and Lipson | 1,594 | 108.2 | -72% |
| Ham | 1,348 | 89.4 | -77% |
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 St Peter and the Waterfront over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 1,285 |
| On or near Royal Parade | 322 |
| On or near Old Town Street | 291 |
| On or near Nightclub | 241 |
| On or near George Place | 221 |
| On or near Police Station | 208 |
| On or near Supermarket | 202 |
| On or near Union Street | 186 |
| On or near Market Way | 120 |
| On or near Whitefriars Lane | 106 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St Peter and the Waterfront 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 | 2,546 | 32.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,539 | 19.7% |
| Not recorded | 1,455 | 18.6% |
| Under investigation | 1,016 | 13.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 481 | 6.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 217 | 2.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 159 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 139 | 1.8% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 114 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 62 | 0.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 41 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 28 | 0.4% |
St Peter and the Waterfront has an estimated population of 20,126. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St Peter and the Waterfront sits in decile 1.9, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St Peter and the Waterfront |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 73.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 26.7% |
| Social rented homes | 32.1% |
| Private rented homes | 41.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.9 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 46.4% |
Is St Peter and the Waterfront a safe place to live?
St Peter and the Waterfront recorded 388.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 St Peter and the Waterfront?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,038 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (1,455).
Is crime in St Peter and the Waterfront going up or down?
Recorded crime in St Peter and the Waterfront was up 1% on the year before: 7,816 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 7,721 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St Peter and the Waterfront?
St Peter and the Waterfront 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 St Peter and the Waterfront. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.