Axminster Crime Overview
Axminster is among the top 10 most dangerous small towns in Devon, and is the 38th most dangerous overall out of Devon's 430 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Axminster in 2020 was 45 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Devon's overall crime rate, coming in 15% lower than the Devon rate of 51 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Axminster is the 318th safest small town, and the 3,665th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In February 2019, Axminster was the worst small town in Devon for burglary, with 11 crimes reported and a crime rate of 1.4 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2019 was also a bad month for Axminster residents, when it was Devon's most dangerous small town for vehicle crime, recording 4 crimes at a rate of 0.52 per 1,000 residents.
The most common crimes in Axminster are violence and sexual offences, with 176 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 23. This is 3.4% higher than 2019's figure of 170 offences and a difference of 0.78 from 2019's crime rate of 22. Axminster's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 1 offence recorded in 2020, a decrease of 200% from 2019's figure of 3 crimes.
Compare Axminster to other towns and cities
See how Axminster shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Axminster and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
Axminster Crime Map
Crime in Axminster Compared To Devon
Summary of Crimes in Axminster This Year
| Axminster | Devon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 165 | 21.54 | 28,259 | 23.54 | 9% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1 | 0.13 | 439 | 0.37 | 185% safer |
| Burglary | 20 | 2.61 | 2,644 | 2.20 | 16% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 35 | 4.57 | 8,119 | 6.76 | 48% safer |
| Drugs | 24 | 3.13 | 3,313 | 2.76 | 12% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 3 | 0.39 | 1,615 | 1.35 | 246% safer |
| Other Theft | 26 | 3.39 | 4,370 | 3.64 | 7% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 2 | 0.26 | 839 | 0.70 | 169% safer |
| Public Order | 30 | 3.92 | 4,841 | 4.03 | 2.8% safer |
| Shoplifting | 13 | 1.70 | 2,897 | 2.41 | 42% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 13 | 1.70 | 2,262 | 1.88 | 11% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 176 | 22.98 | 29,573 | 24.64 | 7% safer |
Axminster Compared to Nearby Small Towns
| Small Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsteignton | 378 | 33.27 | 35% safer |
| Cullompton | 372 | 36.35 | 23% safer |
| Teignmouth | 617 | 40.39 | 11% safer |
| Dawlish | 636 | 41.82 | 7% safer |
| Honiton | 482 | 43.02 | 4.1% safer |
| Axminster | 343 | 44.78 | - |
| Brixham | 773 | 45.52 | 1.6% more dangerous |
| Tiverton | 1,054 | 46.98 | 4.7% more dangerous |
| Crediton | 400 | 50.47 | 11% more dangerous |
| Bideford | 1,087 | 59.39 | 25% more dangerous |
| Totnes | 508 | 61.88 | 28% more dangerous |
Crime Over Time in Axminster
View crime percentage over time forRecent Crimes in Axminster
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Lynch Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Poplar Mount | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Kirby Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| August 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Foxhill | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Second Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Other theft | On or near Petticoat Lane | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near The Cricketers | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Other theft | On or near Petticoat Lane | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Public order | On or near Ingleside | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Other theft | On or near Newbery Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Huntley Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| July 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Huntley Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| July 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Swain Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| July 2021 | Shoplifting | On or near First Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| July 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Dommett Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| July 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Loretto Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| July 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Vale Lane | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| July 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near West Street | Unable to prosecute suspect |
Axminster Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 27 | 29 | 19 | 22 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 0.39 | 0.65 | 0.39 | 0.13 | Safer |
| Burglary | 4.4 | 5 | 3.7 | 2.6 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 7 | 9 | 10 | 4.6 | Safer |
| Drugs | 0.52 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 3.1 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.2 | 0.52 | 1.4 | 0.39 | Safer |
| Other Theft | 6 | 7 | 4.7 | 3.4 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.26 | 0.39 | 0.65 | 0.26 | Safer |
| Public Order | 1.3 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.9 | Getting worse |
| Shoplifting | 5 | 7 | 8 | 1.7 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 1.7 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 1.7 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 17 | 23 | 22 | 23 | Getting worse |
Changes In Axminster's Crime Rates Over Time
Comparing Axminster to the UK's Major Cities
| Small Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Axminster | 44.78 | - |
| Barnet | 67.71 | 34% more dangerous |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 42% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 83.22 | 46% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 48% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 48% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 54% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 56% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 58% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 66% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 67% more dangerous |
Crime in Axminster's Neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axminster | 372 | 40 | First |
Crime in Axminster During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Axminster change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in March, when Axminster saw a 500% increase in burglary. Axminster saw a large fall in shoplifting during March, when it fell by 92% compared to March in 2019.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | +25% | -25% | - | +31% | +85% | +211% | -40% | +83% | -25% | +117% |
| Burglary | +500% | +100% | - | -50% | - | +100% | -50% | - | -33% | - |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -43% | -80% | +17% | -43% | -86% | - | -75% | -17% | -67% | - |
| Drugs | +300% | -75% | - | - | - | - | - | -50% | -67% | - |
| Other Crime | - | - | - | -67% | - | - | - | +100% | - | - |
| Other Theft | - | -71% | - | -25% | +150% | +200% | - | +150% | - | - |
| Possession of Weapons | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Order | +300% | - | - | -50% | -20% | +100% | -67% | -67% | +33% | - |
| Shoplifting | -92% | -75% | -88% | - | - | - | - | -64% | - | - |
| Vehicle Crime | - | - | - | - | -50% | - | -50% | - | +50% | - |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | +23% | -25% | +73% | -13% | -24% | +78% | +8% | +8% | -28% | -11% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Axminster
What police force serves Axminster?
Axminster's local territorial police force is the Devon & Cornwall Police.How dangerous is Axminster?
Axminster is among the top 10 most dangerous small towns in Devon.What is Axminster's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Axminster are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Axminster?
Axminster's least common crime is bicycle theft.Last updated: 05 Oct 2021