Crime in Torquay: statistics, rates and trends

7,339 crimes were recorded in Torquay in the 12 months to July 2026, 144.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,181 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Torquay has the 80th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Torquay was highest in the year to July 2018 (8,387 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (6,894). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Torquay 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. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in possession of weapons (+29%) and bicycle theft (+11%). The largest falls were in drugs (-33%) and anti-social behaviour (-23%).

Violence and sexual offences in Torquay

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Torquay recorded 3,181 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (62.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 43.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Torquay

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Torquay recorded 1,096 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 14.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Torquay

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Torquay recorded 617 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Torquay

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Torquay recorded 513 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Torquay

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Torquay recorded 496 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Torquay

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Torquay recorded 408 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Torquay

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Torquay recorded 261 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Torquay

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Torquay recorded 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Torquay

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Torquay recorded 184 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Torquay

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Torquay recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Torquay

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Torquay recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Torquay

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Torquay recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Torquay

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Torquay recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Torquay

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Torquay recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Torquay, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Torquay.

5 areas within Torquay, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Tormohun had the highest rate (313.7 per 1,000) and Wellswood the lowest (77.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Torquay over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Torquay 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.

Torquay has an estimated population of 50,866. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Torquay sits in decile 3.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Torquay. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.