Crime in Axminster: statistics, rates and trends
486 crimes were recorded in Axminster in the 12 months to August 2026, 67.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Axminster at a glance
- Crime trends in Axminster
- Types of crime in Axminster
- Axminster compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Axminster
- Streets with the most crime in Axminster
- What happened after crimes were reported in Axminster
- Demographics of Axminster
- Questions about crime in Axminster
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (248), criminal damage and arson (54) and anti-social behaviour (50) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 819th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Axminster | East Devon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 486 | 7,455 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 67.6 | 47.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 7,190 | 158,239 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Axminster peaked in the year to August 2018 (680 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (423). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 29%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 486 | 67.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 577 | 80.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 423 | 58.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 460 | 64.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 442 | 61.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 562 | 78.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 658 | 91.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 680 | 94.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 38 |
| July 2026 | 55 |
| June 2026 | 47 |
| May 2026 | 43 |
| April 2026 | 27 |
| March 2026 | 49 |
| February 2026 | 38 |
| January 2026 | 50 |
| December 2025 | 37 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 44 |
| September 2025 | 29 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (64% below) and anti-social behaviour (55% below) were well below it. On the year before, other theft rose from 20 to 24, while shoplifting fell from 61 to 22 and anti-social behaviour fell from 103 to 50.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 248 | 34.5 | 34.2 | +6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 54 | 7.5 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 50 | 7.0 | 15.4 | -51% |
| Public order | 31 | 4.3 | 6.7 | -24% |
| Other theft | 24 | 3.3 | 6.4 | +20% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 3.1 | 8.5 | -64% |
| Burglary | 16 | 2.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 15 | 2.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 2.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Axminster; the highest is Chard (121.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Ottery St Mary (41.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Axminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaton (East Devon) | 337 | 43.3 | -36% |
| Chard | 1,779 | 121.7 | +80% |
| Honiton | 685 | 56.2 | -17% |
| Ilminster | 396 | 64.1 | -5% |
| Bridport | 845 | 84.8 | +25% |
| Crewkerne | 604 | 91.7 | +36% |
| Sidmouth | 722 | 49.8 | -26% |
| Ottery St Mary | 251 | 41.0 | -39% |
Axminster is the one area listed within Axminster, with 63.0 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axminster | Neighbourhood | 9,173 | 578 | 63.0 |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Axminster over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (47).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 47 |
| On or near Vale Lane | 27 |
| On or near Lynch Close | 23 |
| On or near Lyme Street | 19 |
| On or near Flax Meadow Lane | 18 |
| On or near Foxhill | 18 |
| On or near Ridgway Court | 15 |
| On or near Musbury Road | 13 |
| On or near Cawley Avenue | 12 |
| On or near Hilary Gardens | 12 |
Of the 436 crimes in Axminster with a recorded outcome, 23% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 50 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 223 | 51.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 100 | 22.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 58 | 13.3% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 2.3% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 1.6% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Axminster has an estimated population of 7,190 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (29%, against 19%), fewer students (3.9%, against 7.9%) and more retired residents (32%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Axminster average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Axminster | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 16.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Axminster a safe place to live?
Axminster recorded 67.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 819th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Axminster?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 248 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (54).
Is crime in Axminster going up or down?
Recorded crime in Axminster was down 16% on the year before: 486 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 577 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Axminster?
About 7,190 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Axminster?
Axminster 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.