Crime in Sidmouth: statistics, rates and trends
709 crimes were recorded in Sidmouth in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Sidmouth
- Questions about crime in Sidmouth
- About this data
709 crimes were recorded in Sidmouth in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 316 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Sidmouth has the 1,175th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sidmouth | East Devon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 709 | 7,414 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.9 | 46.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 14,498 | 158,239 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sidmouth was highest in the year to July 2018 (775 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (576). 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 | 709 | 48.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 691 | 47.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 632 | 43.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 576 | 39.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 680 | 46.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 703 | 48.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 753 | 51.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 775 | 53.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 61 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sidmouth 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 shoplifting (+38%) and other theft (+15%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-36%) and burglary (-26%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 316 | 21.8 | 0.64 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 74 | 5.1 | 0.33 | -36% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 66 | 4.6 | 0.67 | -1% |
| Other theft | 63 | 4.3 | 0.68 | +15% |
| Vehicle crime | 40 | 2.8 | 0.56 | +167% |
| Public order | 38 | 2.6 | 0.39 | -3% |
| Shoplifting | 29 | 2.0 | 0.24 | +38% |
| Drugs | 23 | 1.6 | 0.49 | +28% |
| Other crime | 18 | 1.2 | 0.59 | +64% |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.2 | 0.33 | -26% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.7 | 0.71 | +11% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.5 | 0.59 | +250% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 0.20 | -17% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 0.15 | +200% |
Violence and sexual offences in Sidmouth
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sidmouth recorded 316 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 44.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sidmouth
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sidmouth recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sidmouth
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sidmouth recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sidmouth
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sidmouth recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sidmouth
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sidmouth recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 167% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sidmouth
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sidmouth recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sidmouth
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sidmouth recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sidmouth
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sidmouth recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 28% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sidmouth
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sidmouth recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 64% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sidmouth
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sidmouth recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sidmouth
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sidmouth recorded 10 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 11% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Sidmouth
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sidmouth recorded 7 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 250% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sidmouth
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sidmouth recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sidmouth
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sidmouth recorded 3 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 up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Sidmouth, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sidmouth.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sidmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottery St Mary | 259 | 42.3 | -13% |
| Seaton (East Devon) | 337 | 43.3 | -11% |
| Honiton | 670 | 55.0 | +12% |
| Cranbrook (East Devon) | 296 | 48.8 | -0% |
| Exmouth | 2,331 | 64.4 | +32% |
| Axminster | 500 | 69.5 | +42% |
| Exeter | 14,657 | 110.8 | +127% |
| Dawlish | 1,014 | 83.2 | +70% |
3 areas within Sidmouth, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Sidmouth Sidford had the highest rate (59.6 per 1,000) and Sidmouth Rural the lowest (27.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidmouth Sidford | Neighbourhood | 7,015 | 418 | 59.6 |
| Sidmouth Town | Neighbourhood | 5,385 | 234 | 43.5 |
| Sidmouth Rural | Neighbourhood | 2,098 | 57 | 27.2 |
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 Sidmouth over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 46 |
| On or near Baker Close | 34 |
| On or near Howarth Close | 32 |
| On or near Fairmead | 24 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 21 |
| On or near High Street | 19 |
| On or near Higher Brook Meadow | 19 |
| On or near Fore Street | 18 |
| On or near Betjeman Close | 17 |
| On or near High Meadow | 14 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sidmouth 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 | 289 | 40.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 175 | 24.7% |
| Under investigation | 83 | 11.7% |
| Not recorded | 74 | 10.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 3.5% |
| Local resolution | 23 | 3.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 16 | 2.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 1.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 6 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.1% |
Sidmouth has an estimated population of 14,498. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sidmouth sits in decile 7.4, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sidmouth |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 45.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 43.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 76.1% |
| Social rented homes | 10.3% |
| Private rented homes | 13.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.4 |
Is Sidmouth a safe place to live?
Sidmouth recorded 48.9 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 Sidmouth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 316 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (74).
Is crime in Sidmouth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sidmouth was up 3% on the year before: 709 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 691 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sidmouth?
Sidmouth 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 Sidmouth. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.