Crime in Sidmouth: statistics, rates and trends
722 crimes were recorded in Sidmouth in the 12 months to August 2026, 49.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Sidmouth at a glance
- Crime trends in Sidmouth
- Types of crime in Sidmouth
- Sidmouth compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Sidmouth
- Streets with the most crime in Sidmouth
- What happened after crimes were reported in Sidmouth
- Demographics of Sidmouth
- Questions about crime in Sidmouth
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (314), anti-social behaviour (79) and criminal damage and arson (72) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,153rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Sidmouth | East Devon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 722 | 7,455 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 49.8 | 47.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 14,498 | 158,239 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Sidmouth peaked in the year to August 2018 (773 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (569). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 7%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 722 | 49.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 674 | 46.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 659 | 45.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 569 | 39.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 693 | 47.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 704 | 48.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 712 | 49.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 773 | 53.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 74 |
| July 2026 | 63 |
| June 2026 | 50 |
| May 2026 | 55 |
| April 2026 | 60 |
| March 2026 | 73 |
| February 2026 | 47 |
| January 2026 | 52 |
| December 2025 | 51 |
| November 2025 | 58 |
| October 2025 | 79 |
| September 2025 | 60 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (78% below) and anti-social behaviour (65% below) were well below it. On the year before, public order rose from 35 to 45 and shoplifting rose from 22 to 27, while anti-social behaviour fell from 108 to 79.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 314 | 21.7 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 79 | 5.4 | 15.4 | -27% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 72 | 5.0 | 6.7 | +16% |
| Other theft | 62 | 4.3 | 6.4 | +7% |
| Public order | 45 | 3.1 | 6.7 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 39 | 2.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 27 | 1.9 | 8.5 | +23% |
| Drugs | 23 | 1.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 19 | 1.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 19 | 1.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Sidmouth; the highest is Exeter (110.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Ottery St Mary (41.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sidmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottery St Mary | 251 | 41.0 | -18% |
| Seaton (East Devon) | 337 | 43.3 | -13% |
| Honiton | 685 | 56.2 | +13% |
| Cranbrook (East Devon) | 296 | 48.8 | -2% |
| Exmouth | 2,291 | 63.3 | +27% |
| Axminster | 486 | 67.6 | +36% |
| Exeter | 14,661 | 110.8 | +122% |
| Dawlish | 1,002 | 82.2 | +65% |
Of the 3 areas within Sidmouth, Sidmouth Sidford had the highest crime rate (60.9 per 1,000) and Sidmouth Rural the lowest (28.6).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidmouth Sidford | Neighbourhood | 7,015 | 427 | 60.9 |
| Sidmouth Town | Neighbourhood | 5,385 | 235 | 43.6 |
| Sidmouth Rural | Neighbourhood | 2,098 | 60 | 28.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Sidmouth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (43).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 43 |
| On or near Howarth Close | 31 |
| On or near Baker Close | 28 |
| On or near Fairmead | 24 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 21 |
| On or near High Meadow | 20 |
| On or near High Street | 18 |
| On or near Higher Brook Meadow | 18 |
| On or near Betjeman Close | 17 |
| On or near Fore Street | 15 |
Of the 643 crimes in Sidmouth with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 79 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 291 | 45.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 173 | 26.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 81 | 12.6% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 27 | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 26 | 4.0% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 16 | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 1.4% | 0.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 1.2% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Sidmouth has an estimated population of 14,498 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (43%, against 19%), more retired residents (47%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Sidmouth average decile 7.4 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Sidmouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 43.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 40.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 46.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 36.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 76.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Sidmouth a safe place to live?
Sidmouth recorded 49.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,153rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Sidmouth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 314 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (79).
Is crime in Sidmouth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sidmouth was up 7% on the year before: 722 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 674 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Sidmouth?
About 14,498 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 43% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Sidmouth?
Sidmouth 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.