Crime in Dartmouth: statistics, rates and trends
355 crimes were recorded in Dartmouth in the 12 months to July 2026, 66.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Dartmouth
- Questions about crime in Dartmouth
- About this data
355 crimes were recorded in Dartmouth in the 12 months to July 2026, 66.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 172 reports (48% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Dartmouth has the 846th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Dartmouth | South Hams | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 355 | 4,365 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 66.7 | 47.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 5,322 | 92,148 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Dartmouth was highest in the year to July 2019 (388 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (293). Over the whole period it rose 2%, 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 | 355 | 66.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 339 | 63.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 303 | 56.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 324 | 60.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 314 | 59.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 293 | 55.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 388 | 72.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 348 | 65.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 40 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Dartmouth 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 violence and sexual offences (+37%) and criminal damage and arson (+24%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-43%) and public order (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 172 | 32.3 | 0.94 | +37% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 41 | 7.7 | 1.14 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 37 | 7.0 | 0.45 | -43% |
| Other theft | 33 | 6.2 | 0.97 | +10% |
| Shoplifting | 21 | 3.9 | 0.48 | -12% |
| Public order | 17 | 3.2 | 0.48 | -23% |
| Burglary | 10 | 1.9 | 0.53 | +25% |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.7 | 0.52 | -10% |
| Other crime | 8 | 1.5 | 0.71 | -27% |
| Vehicle crime | 5 | 0.9 | 0.19 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 0.19 | -80% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.11 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Dartmouth
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Dartmouth recorded 172 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 37% on the year before. It made up 48.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Dartmouth
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Dartmouth recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 11.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Dartmouth
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Dartmouth recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Dartmouth
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Dartmouth recorded 33 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 up 10% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Dartmouth
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Dartmouth recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Dartmouth
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Dartmouth recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Dartmouth
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Dartmouth recorded 10 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 up 25% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Dartmouth
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Dartmouth recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Dartmouth
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Dartmouth recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Dartmouth
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Dartmouth recorded 5 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Dartmouth
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Dartmouth recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 80% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Dartmouth
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Dartmouth recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Dartmouth, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Dartmouth.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brixham | 1,212 | 67.6 | +1% |
| Paignton | 6,322 | 93.9 | +41% |
| Totnes | 648 | 70.9 | +6% |
| Torquay | 7,339 | 144.3 | +116% |
| Kingsbridge | 517 | 80.0 | +20% |
| Newton Abbot | 2,488 | 83.6 | +25% |
| Kingsteignton | 626 | 47.8 | -28% |
| Teignmouth | 1,117 | 74.6 | +12% |
1 areas within Dartmouth, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Dartmouth & East Dart had the highest rate (55.2 per 1,000) and Dartmouth & East Dart the lowest (55.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth & East Dart | Neighbourhood | 8,558 | 472 | 55.2 |
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 Dartmouth over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Admiral Court | 32 |
| On or near Windsor Road | 22 |
| On or near Parking Area | 16 |
| On or near Davis Road | 14 |
| On or near Supermarket | 14 |
| On or near Foss Slip | 14 |
| On or near Victory Road | 13 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 12 |
| On or near Townstal Crescent | 11 |
| On or near Badger Close | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Dartmouth 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 | 164 | 46.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 74 | 20.8% |
| Under investigation | 38 | 10.7% |
| Not recorded | 37 | 10.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 11 | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 1.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
Dartmouth has an estimated population of 5,322. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Dartmouth sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Dartmouth |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.6% |
| Social rented homes | 21.5% |
| Private rented homes | 17.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 |
Is Dartmouth a safe place to live?
Dartmouth recorded 66.7 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 Dartmouth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 172 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (41).
Is crime in Dartmouth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dartmouth was up 5% on the year before: 355 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 339 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Dartmouth?
Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.