Crime in Bude: statistics, rates and trends
573 crimes were recorded in Bude in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 20% on the year before.
573 crimes were recorded in Bude in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 20% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 254 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bude has the 783rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bude | Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 573 | 41,624 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.5 | 71.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -20% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 8,129 | 583,289 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bude was highest in the year to July 2025 (719 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (518). Over the whole period it fell 9%, 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 | 573 | 70.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 719 | 88.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 710 | 87.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 579 | 71.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 565 | 69.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 518 | 63.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 591 | 72.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 630 | 77.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 50 |
| June 2026 | 40 |
| May 2026 | 61 |
| April 2026 | 42 |
| March 2026 | 27 |
| February 2026 | 38 |
| January 2026 | 39 |
| December 2025 | 35 |
| November 2025 | 49 |
| October 2025 | 51 |
| September 2025 | 66 |
| August 2025 | 75 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bude 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 falls were in shoplifting (-43%) and burglary (-40%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 254 | 31.2 | 0.91 | -2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 75 | 9.2 | 0.60 | -25% |
| Shoplifting | 68 | 8.4 | 1.01 | -43% |
| Other theft | 50 | 6.2 | 0.96 | -4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 46 | 5.7 | 0.83 | -32% |
| Public order | 36 | 4.4 | 0.67 | -31% |
| Burglary | 12 | 1.5 | 0.42 | -40% |
| Other crime | 8 | 1.0 | 0.47 | -11% |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 0.9 | 0.17 | -30% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.7 | 0.76 | +20% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.5 | 0.60 | -20% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 0.22 | +0% |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.2 | 0.08 | -86% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 0.18 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bude
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bude recorded 254 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 44.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bude
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bude recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bude
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bude recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 11.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bude
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bude recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bude
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bude recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bude
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bude recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bude
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bude recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bude
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bude recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bude
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bude recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bude
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bude recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bude
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bude recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bude
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bude recorded 3 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bude
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bude recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 86% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bude
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bude recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Bude, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bude.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | 851 | 103.4 | +47% |
| Bideford | 1,720 | 89.5 | +27% |
| Great Torrington | 341 | 57.6 | -18% |
| Fremington | 150 | 27.9 | -60% |
| Okehampton | 700 | 68.0 | -3% |
| Braunton | 297 | 36.8 | -48% |
| Wadebridge | 412 | 79.4 | +13% |
| Liskeard | 1,321 | 112.9 | +60% |
2 areas within Bude, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bude had the highest rate (92.6 per 1,000) and Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow the lowest (37.4). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bude | Neighbourhood | 5,289 | 490 | 92.6 |
| Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow | Neighbourhood | 8,056 | 301 | 37.4 |
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 Bude over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 115 |
| On or near Parking Area | 34 |
| On or near Nightclub | 22 |
| On or near Primrose Road | 21 |
| On or near Granville Terrace | 18 |
| On or near Chough Close | 15 |
| On or near Elizabeth Road | 14 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 14 |
| On or near Belle Vue Avenue | 13 |
| On or near Stone Hill | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bude 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 | 221 | 38.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 139 | 24.3% |
| Not recorded | 75 | 13.1% |
| Under investigation | 73 | 12.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 23 | 4.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 2.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 10 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 8 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.2% |
Bude has an estimated population of 8,129. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bude sits in decile 4.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bude |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 54.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.6% |
| Social rented homes | 14.5% |
| Private rented homes | 20.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.7 |
Is Bude a safe place to live?
Bude recorded 70.5 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 Bude?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 254 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (75).
Is crime in Bude going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bude was down 20% on the year before: 573 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 719 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bude?
Bude 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 Bude. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.