Crime in Torquay: statistics, rates and trends
7,355 crimes were recorded in Torquay in the 12 months to August 2026, 144.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
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Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (3,223), anti-social behaviour (1,066) and criminal damage and arson (596) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 80th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Torquay | Torbay | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 7,355 | 15,261 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 144.6 | 108.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 50,866 | 140,126 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Torquay peaked in the year to August 2018 (8,211 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (7,007). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 10%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 7,355 | 144.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 7,619 | 149.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 7,249 | 142.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 7,007 | 137.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 7,130 | 140.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 7,372 | 144.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 7,637 | 150.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 8,211 | 161.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 666 |
| July 2026 | 734 |
| June 2026 | 610 |
| May 2026 | 612 |
| April 2026 | 659 |
| March 2026 | 597 |
| February 2026 | 565 |
| January 2026 | 567 |
| December 2025 | 556 |
| November 2025 | 574 |
| October 2025 | 642 |
| September 2025 | 573 |
Compared with England and Wales, Torquay recorded notably more possession of weapons (2.0 times the national rate), violence and sexual offences (85% above the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (74% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (27% below) and bicycle theft (24% below). On the year before, bicycle theft rose from 24 to 32 and possession of weapons rose from 84 to 97, while drugs fell from 385 to 256 and anti-social behaviour fell from 1,416 to 1,066.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,223 | 63.4 | 34.2 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,066 | 21.0 | 15.4 | -25% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 596 | 11.7 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Shoplifting | 557 | 11.0 | 8.5 | +12% |
| Other theft | 496 | 9.8 | 6.4 | -3% |
| Public order | 405 | 8.0 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Drugs | 256 | 5.0 | 3.3 | -34% |
| Vehicle crime | 184 | 3.6 | 5.0 | +10% |
| Burglary | 181 | 3.6 | 3.6 | -2% |
| Other crime | 129 | 2.5 | 2.1 | -12% |
| Possession of weapons | 97 | 1.9 | 1.0 | +15% |
| Theft from the person | 76 | 1.5 | 1.7 | -12% |
| Robbery | 57 | 1.1 | 1.4 | -11% |
| Bicycle theft | 32 | 0.6 | 0.8 | +33% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Torquay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paignton | 6,232 | 92.6 | -36% |
| Newton Abbot | 2,527 | 84.9 | -41% |
| Teignmouth | 1,111 | 74.2 | -49% |
| Kingsteignton | 630 | 48.1 | -67% |
| Brixham | 1,214 | 67.7 | -53% |
| Totnes | 659 | 72.1 | -50% |
| Dawlish | 1,002 | 82.2 | -43% |
| Dartmouth | 371 | 69.7 | -52% |
Of the 5 areas within Torquay, Tormohun had the highest crime rate (311.2 per 1,000) and Ellacombe the lowest (78.8), 4 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tormohun | Neighbourhood | 13,281 | 4,133 | 311.2 |
| Barton with Watcombe | Neighbourhood | 11,983 | 1,211 | 101.1 |
| St Marychurch | Neighbourhood | 13,386 | 1,134 | 84.7 |
| Wellswood | Neighbourhood | 6,385 | 524 | 82.1 |
| Ellacombe | Neighbourhood | 7,765 | 612 | 78.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 27% of the crime recorded in Torquay over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (548).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 548 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 375 |
| On or near Police Station | 172 |
| On or near East Street | 160 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 147 |
| On or near Cary Parade | 138 |
| On or near Nightclub | 124 |
| On or near Madrepore Road | 119 |
| On or near Factory Row | 116 |
| On or near Supermarket | 114 |
Of the 6,289 crimes in Torquay with a recorded outcome, 22% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 1,066 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,941 | 46.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,413 | 22.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 783 | 12.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 383 | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 189 | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 165 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 154 | 2.4% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 129 | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 69 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 21 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 21 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Torquay has an estimated population of 50,866 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more private renting (34%, against 20%), less social housing (9.4%, against 17.1%) and fewer students (4.7%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Torquay average decile 3.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Torquay | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 50.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 28.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 56.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 33.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.1 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 23.6% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Torquay a safe place to live?
Torquay recorded 144.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 80th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were possession of weapons and violence and sexual offences.
What is the most common crime in Torquay?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,223 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (1,066).
Is crime in Torquay going up or down?
Recorded crime in Torquay was down 3% on the year before: 7,355 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 7,619 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Torquay?
About 50,866 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Torquay?
Torquay 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.