Crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area: statistics, rates and trends
140,218 crimes were recorded in the Devon & Cornwall Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
- Types of crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
- The Devon & Cornwall Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Devon & Cornwall Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
- Questions about crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
- About this data
140,218 crimes were recorded in the Devon & Cornwall Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 63,419 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Devon & Cornwall Police area has the 33rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Devon & Cornwall Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 140,218 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.2 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 1,840,161 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area was highest in the year to July 2025 (143,586 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (120,135). Over the whole period it rose 0%, 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 | 140,218 | 76.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 143,586 | 78.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 122,234 | 66.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 120,135 | 65.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 126,037 | 68.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 127,081 | 69.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 135,636 | 73.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 139,908 | 76.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 13,727 |
| June 2026 | 12,355 |
| May 2026 | 12,520 |
| April 2026 | 11,735 |
| March 2026 | 11,767 |
| February 2026 | 10,204 |
| January 2026 | 10,242 |
| December 2025 | 10,368 |
| November 2025 | 11,044 |
| October 2025 | 11,718 |
| September 2025 | 11,573 |
| August 2025 | 12,965 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Devon & Cornwall Police area 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 (+29%) and bicycle theft (+19%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-28%) and drugs (-26%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 63,419 | 34.5 | 1.01 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 18,189 | 9.9 | 0.64 | -28% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12,859 | 7.0 | 1.03 | -4% |
| Other theft | 10,005 | 5.4 | 0.85 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 9,775 | 5.3 | 0.64 | -11% |
| Public order | 8,799 | 4.8 | 0.72 | +4% |
| Burglary | 3,446 | 1.9 | 0.53 | -5% |
| Vehicle crime | 3,387 | 1.8 | 0.37 | +13% |
| Drugs | 3,333 | 1.8 | 0.55 | -26% |
| Other crime | 3,052 | 1.7 | 0.79 | +2% |
| Possession of weapons | 1,689 | 0.9 | 0.95 | +8% |
| Robbery | 791 | 0.4 | 0.32 | +29% |
| Theft from the person | 781 | 0.4 | 0.25 | -13% |
| Bicycle theft | 693 | 0.4 | 0.46 | +19% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 63,419 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 45.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 18,189 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 13.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 12,859 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 10,005 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 9,775 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 8,799 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 3,446 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 down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 3,387 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 3,333 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 3,052 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 1,689 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 791 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 781 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 13% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Devon & Cornwall Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 693 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Devon & Cornwall Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Devon & Cornwall Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Devon & Cornwall Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Wales | 124,335 | 91.2 | +20% |
| Avon and Somerset | 188,371 | 103.9 | +36% |
| Gwent | 70,783 | 117.6 | +54% |
| Dorset | 56,174 | 70.3 | -8% |
| Dyfed-Powys | 44,793 | 85.4 | +12% |
| Wiltshire | 51,651 | 67.3 | -12% |
| Gloucestershire | 55,492 | 82.9 | +9% |
| Hampshire | 165,842 | 80.4 | +6% |
12 areas within the Devon & Cornwall Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Torbay had the highest rate (109.4 per 1,000) and Isles of Scilly the lowest (34.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torbay | District | 140,126 | 15,330 | 109.4 |
| Plymouth | District | 272,067 | 29,674 | 109.1 |
| Exeter | District | 138,399 | 15,026 | 108.6 |
| Cornwall | District | 583,289 | 41,624 | 71.4 |
| North Devon | District | 101,222 | 7,132 | 70.5 |
| Teignbridge | District | 138,548 | 8,128 | 58.7 |
| Mid Devon | District | 84,993 | 4,963 | 58.4 |
| Torridge | District | 69,841 | 3,826 | 54.8 |
| South Hams | District | 92,148 | 4,365 | 47.4 |
| East Devon | District | 158,239 | 7,414 | 46.9 |
| West Devon | District | 58,923 | 2,655 | 45.1 |
| Isles of Scilly | District | 2,366 | 81 | 34.2 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Devon & Cornwall Police area 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 | 56,004 | 39.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 28,760 | 20.5% |
| Not recorded | 18,189 | 13.0% |
| Under investigation | 17,827 | 12.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5,000 | 3.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 4,940 | 3.5% |
| Local resolution | 2,231 | 1.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2,194 | 1.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 1,971 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 1,024 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 726 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 654 | 0.5% |
The Devon & Cornwall Police area has an estimated population of 1,840,161. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Devon & Cornwall Police area sits in decile 5.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Devon & Cornwall Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.9% |
| Social rented homes | 12.7% |
| Private rented homes | 20.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 4.1% |
Is the Devon & Cornwall Police area a safe place to live?
The Devon & Cornwall Police area recorded 76.2 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 the Devon & Cornwall Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 63,419 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (18,189).
Is crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Devon & Cornwall Police area was down 2% on the year before: 140,218 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 143,586 in the previous 12 months.
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 the Devon & Cornwall Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.