Crime in Ottery St Mary: statistics, rates and trends
259 crimes were recorded in Ottery St Mary in the 12 months to July 2026, 42.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Ottery St Mary at a glance
- Crime trends in Ottery St Mary
- Types of crime in Ottery St Mary
- Ottery St Mary compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Ottery St Mary
- Streets with the most crime in Ottery St Mary
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ottery St Mary
- Population and deprivation in Ottery St Mary
- Questions about crime in Ottery St Mary
- About this data
259 crimes were recorded in Ottery St Mary in the 12 months to July 2026, 42.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 137 reports (53% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Ottery St Mary has the 1,275th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Ottery St Mary | East Devon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 259 | 7,414 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 42.3 | 46.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 6,116 | 158,239 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Ottery St Mary was highest in the year to July 2018 (394 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (230). Over the whole period it fell 34%, 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 | 259 | 42.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 276 | 45.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 230 | 37.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 285 | 46.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 267 | 43.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 263 | 43.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 296 | 48.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 394 | 64.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 17 |
| June 2026 | 29 |
| May 2026 | 29 |
| April 2026 | 19 |
| March 2026 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 19 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 19 |
| September 2025 | 15 |
| August 2025 | 23 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ottery St Mary 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 anti-social behaviour (-62%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 137 | 22.4 | 0.65 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 26 | 4.3 | 0.63 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 19 | 3.1 | 0.20 | -62% |
| Shoplifting | 17 | 2.8 | 0.34 | +183% |
| Public order | 15 | 2.5 | 0.37 | +0% |
| Other theft | 13 | 2.1 | 0.33 | -13% |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 1.6 | 0.33 | +150% |
| Drugs | 8 | 1.3 | 0.40 | -11% |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.0 | 0.28 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.5 | 0.60 | +200% |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.5 | 0.23 | -75% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.3 | 0.34 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Ottery St Mary
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ottery St Mary recorded 137 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 52.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Ottery St Mary
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ottery St Mary recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Ottery St Mary
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ottery St Mary recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Ottery St Mary
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ottery St Mary recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 183% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Ottery St Mary
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ottery St Mary recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Ottery St Mary
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ottery St Mary recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Ottery St Mary
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ottery St Mary recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Ottery St Mary
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ottery St Mary recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Ottery St Mary
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ottery St Mary recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Ottery St Mary
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ottery St Mary recorded 3 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 up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Ottery St Mary
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ottery St Mary recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 75% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Ottery St Mary
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ottery St Mary recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Ottery St Mary, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ottery St Mary.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ottery St Mary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidmouth | 709 | 48.9 | +15% |
| Honiton | 670 | 55.0 | +30% |
| Cranbrook (East Devon) | 296 | 48.8 | +15% |
| Cullompton | 873 | 71.3 | +68% |
| Seaton (East Devon) | 337 | 43.3 | +2% |
| Exmouth | 2,331 | 64.4 | +52% |
| Exeter | 14,657 | 110.8 | +162% |
| Axminster | 500 | 69.5 | +64% |
1 areas within Ottery St Mary, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ottery St Mary had the highest rate (36.5 per 1,000) and Ottery St Mary the lowest (36.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottery St Mary | Neighbourhood | 10,717 | 391 | 36.5 |
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 Ottery St Mary over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near St Saviours Road | 21 |
| On or near Yonder Close | 16 |
| On or near Canaan Way | 14 |
| On or near Gold Street | 14 |
| On or near Supermarket | 13 |
| On or near Thackeray Close | 12 |
| On or near Hospital | 10 |
| On or near Prospect Place | 10 |
| On or near Jesu Street | 9 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ottery St Mary 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 | 96 | 37.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 66 | 25.5% |
| Under investigation | 33 | 12.7% |
| Not recorded | 19 | 7.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 6.9% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 3.9% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.4% |
Ottery St Mary has an estimated population of 6,116. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ottery St Mary sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Ottery St Mary |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 55.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.0% |
| Social rented homes | 11.4% |
| Private rented homes | 16.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is Ottery St Mary a safe place to live?
Ottery St Mary recorded 42.3 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 Ottery St Mary?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 137 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (26).
Is crime in Ottery St Mary going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ottery St Mary was down 6% on the year before: 259 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 276 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Ottery St Mary?
Ottery St Mary 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 Ottery St Mary. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.