Crime in Dartmouth: statistics, rates and trends
371 crimes were recorded in Dartmouth in the 12 months to August 2026, 69.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Dartmouth at a glance
- Crime trends in Dartmouth
- Types of crime in Dartmouth
- Dartmouth compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Dartmouth
- Streets with the most crime in Dartmouth
- What happened after crimes were reported in Dartmouth
- Demographics of Dartmouth
- Questions about crime in Dartmouth
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (170), shoplifting (46) and criminal damage and arson (41) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 782nd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Dartmouth | South Hams | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 371 | 4,357 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 69.7 | 47.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,322 | 92,148 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Dartmouth peaked in the year to August 2019 (372 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2020 (306). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 8%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 371 | 69.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 350 | 65.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 311 | 58.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 317 | 59.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 307 | 57.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 306 | 57.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 372 | 69.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 342 | 64.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 56 |
| July 2026 | 43 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 30 |
| April 2026 | 32 |
| March 2026 | 26 |
| February 2026 | 23 |
| January 2026 | 21 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 25 |
| September 2025 | 40 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (60% below) was well below it. On the year before, shoplifting rose from 26 to 46 and criminal damage and arson rose from 31 to 41, while anti-social behaviour fell from 63 to 33.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 170 | 31.9 | 34.2 | +27% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 8.6 | 8.5 | +77% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 41 | 7.7 | 6.7 | +32% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 33 | 6.2 | 15.4 | -48% |
| Other theft | 32 | 6.0 | 6.4 | +3% |
| Public order | 19 | 3.6 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 5 | 0.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Dartmouth; the highest is Torquay (144.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Kingsteignton (48.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brixham | 1,214 | 67.7 | -3% |
| Paignton | 6,232 | 92.6 | +33% |
| Totnes | 659 | 72.1 | +3% |
| Torquay | 7,355 | 144.6 | +107% |
| Kingsbridge | 474 | 73.3 | +5% |
| Newton Abbot | 2,527 | 84.9 | +22% |
| Kingsteignton | 630 | 48.1 | -31% |
| Teignmouth | 1,111 | 74.2 | +6% |
Dartmouth & East Dart is the one area listed within Dartmouth, with 57.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth & East Dart | Neighbourhood | 8,558 | 489 | 57.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 48% of the crime recorded in Dartmouth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (38).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 38 |
| On or near Admiral Court | 33 |
| On or near Windsor Road | 21 |
| On or near Parking Area | 18 |
| On or near Foss Slip | 13 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 13 |
| On or near Victory Road | 12 |
| On or near Davis Road | 11 |
| On or near Townstal Crescent | 11 |
| On or near Carey Road | 8 |
Of the 338 crimes in Dartmouth with a recorded outcome, 21% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 33 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 158 | 46.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 71 | 21.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 56 | 16.6% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 4.1% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 2.4% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
Dartmouth has an estimated population of 5,322 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (32%, against 19%), more retired residents (35%, against 22%) and fewer students (4.7%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Dartmouth average decile 5.7 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Dartmouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 49.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 34.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 32.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 22.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Dartmouth a safe place to live?
Dartmouth recorded 69.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 782nd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Dartmouth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 170 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (46).
Is crime in Dartmouth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dartmouth was up 6% on the year before: 371 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 350 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Dartmouth?
About 5,322 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 32% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Dartmouth?
Dartmouth 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.