Crime in Totnes: statistics, rates and trends
659 crimes were recorded in Totnes in the 12 months to August 2026, 72.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (237), anti-social behaviour (97) and shoplifting (90) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 740th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Totnes | South Hams | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 659 | 4,357 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.1 | 47.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 9,135 | 92,148 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Totnes peaked in the year to August 2018 (1,017 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (592). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 35%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 659 | 72.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 697 | 76.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 768 | 84.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 617 | 67.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 592 | 64.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 873 | 95.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 825 | 90.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,017 | 111.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 71 |
| July 2026 | 71 |
| June 2026 | 72 |
| May 2026 | 50 |
| April 2026 | 44 |
| March 2026 | 43 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 39 |
| November 2025 | 35 |
| October 2025 | 61 |
| September 2025 | 69 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (31% below) and violence and sexual offences (24% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson fell from 95 to 61.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 237 | 25.9 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 97 | 10.6 | 15.4 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 90 | 9.9 | 8.5 | +14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 61 | 6.7 | 6.7 | -36% |
| Public order | 51 | 5.6 | 6.7 | +13% |
| Other theft | 48 | 5.3 | 6.4 | +7% |
| Burglary | 16 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 15 | 1.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 1.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.8 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Totnes; the highest is Torquay (144.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Kingsteignton (48.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Totnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paignton | 6,232 | 92.6 | +28% |
| Dartmouth | 371 | 69.7 | -3% |
| Newton Abbot | 2,527 | 84.9 | +18% |
| Torquay | 7,355 | 144.6 | +100% |
| Brixham | 1,214 | 67.7 | -6% |
| Kingsteignton | 630 | 48.1 | -33% |
| Kingsbridge | 474 | 73.3 | +2% |
| Ivybridge | 626 | 52.5 | -27% |
Totnes is the one area listed within Totnes, with 72.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totnes | Neighbourhood | 9,135 | 659 | 72.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 45% of the crime recorded in Totnes over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Coronation Road” (84).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Coronation Road | 84 |
| On or near Parking Area | 43 |
| On or near Mill Lane | 35 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 31 |
| On or near Fore Street | 24 |
| On or near Ashburton Road | 21 |
| On or near Rotherfold | 17 |
| On or near Hope Close | 16 |
| On or near Argyle Terrace | 15 |
| On or near Antrim Terrace | 13 |
Of the 562 crimes in Totnes with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 97 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 238 | 42.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 151 | 26.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 77 | 13.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 32 | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 24 | 4.3% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 13 | 2.3% | 0.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 2.0% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 0.9% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Totnes has an estimated population of 9,135 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (28%, against 19%), more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (46%, against 34%) and fewer students (5.2%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Totnes average decile 5.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Totnes | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 45.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 23.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 59.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 20.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Totnes a safe place to live?
Totnes recorded 72.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 740th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Totnes?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 237 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (97).
Is crime in Totnes going up or down?
Recorded crime in Totnes was down 5% on the year before: 659 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 697 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Totnes?
About 9,135 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Totnes?
Totnes 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.