Northam Crime Overview

Northam is among the top 10 safest small towns in Devon, and is the 139th most dangerous overall out of Devon's 430 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Northam in 2020 was 28 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Devon's overall crime rate, coming in 84% lower than the Devon rate of 51 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Northam is the 100th safest small town, and the 4,455th safest location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

The most common crimes in Northam are violence and sexual offences, with 181 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 14. This is 12% higher than 2019's figure of 159 offences and a difference of 1.76 from 2019's crime rate of 13. Northam's least common crime is robbery, with 1 offence recorded in 2020, the same as 2019's figure of 1 crime.

Compare Northam to other towns and cities

See how Northam shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Northam and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.

Northam Crime Map

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Crime in Northam Compared To Devon

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Summary of Crimes in Northam This Year

 NorthamDevon 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour18815.0728,25923.5456% safer
Bicycle Theft20.164390.37131% safer
Burglary181.442,6442.2053% safer
Criminal Damage and Arson614.898,1196.7638% safer
Drugs201.603,3132.7672% safer
Other Crime50.401,6151.35238% safer
Other Theft241.924,3703.6490% safer
Possession of Weapons50.408390.7075% safer
Public Order171.364,8414.03196% safer
Robbery10.083870.32300% safer
Shoplifting70.562,8972.41330% safer
Vehicle Crime70.562,2621.88236% safer
Violence and Sexual Offences18114.5029,57324.6470% safer

Northam Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Broad Clyst21625.0112% safer
Fremington29725.1111% safer
Ottery St. Mary24425.669% safer
Bovey Tracey21327.361.9% safer
Seaton20827.601.1% safer
Northam34827.89-
Sidmouth42329.224.6% more dangerous
Tavistock37029.495% more dangerous
Ivybridge35129.857% more dangerous
Kingsteignton37833.2716% more dangerous
Cullompton37236.3523% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Northam

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Recent Crimes in Northam

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Merley RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Public orderOn or near Lenwood RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Parking AreaUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Riverside CourtOffender given a caution
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near College CloseOffender given a caution
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near College CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Link House CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Other crimeOn or near Woodland ParkUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Heywood RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Heywood RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Kingsley RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021DrugsOn or near Shoreland WayLocal resolution
October 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Windmill LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near The QuayInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Public orderOn or near Chantry AvenueUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Kenwith RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Hilltop RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Hilltop RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Public orderOn or near Lower CleaveInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Great Burrow RiseUnable to prosecute suspect

Northam Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour1313915Getting worse
Bicycle Theft0.08--0.16Getting worse
Burglary1.82.41.41.4Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson4.863.94.9Safer
Drugs0.720.721.11.6Getting worse
Other Crime0.400.640.480.40Safer
Other Theft2.83.41.61.9Safer
Possession of Weapons0.080.080.080.40Getting worse
Public Order1.93.11.41.4Safer
Robbery (inc. mugging)--0.080.08No change
Shoplifting1.11.90.240.56Safer
Vehicle Crime1.01.80.880.56Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences16131314Getting worse

Changes In Northam's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing Northam to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
Northam27.89-
Barnet67.7159% more dangerous
Coventry77.4164% more dangerous
Croydon83.2266% more dangerous
Sheffield85.8167% more dangerous
Bristol86.2168% more dangerous
Leicester97.4471% more dangerous
Birmingham102.8773% more dangerous
Liverpool107.2874% more dangerous
Bradford133.0279% more dangerous
Leeds137.1080% more dangerous

Crime in Northam's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Appledore & Northam North18530First
Westward Ho! & Northam South16426Second

Crime in Northam During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Northam change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in October, when Northam saw a 500% increase in drugs. Northam saw a large fall in criminal damage and arson during March, when it fell by 86% compared to March in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour-17%+110%+288%+100%-6%+82%+64%+43%+63%+71%
Burglary-+100%---50%-50%-+100%+400%-
Criminal Damage and Arson-86%-20%-40%+400%+175%+150%+14%-40%+25%+67%
Drugs---50%----+500%+100%-33%
Other Crime-------67%---
Other Theft-50%---50%+50%+400%-33%--50%-
Public Order--33%--------
Vehicle Crime-67%------50%---
Violence and Sexual Offences-57%+6%+75%-8%+40%+31%+75%+43%+54%+80%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Northam

What police force serves Northam?
Northam's local territorial police force is the Devon & Cornwall Police.
How dangerous is Northam?
Northam is among the top 10 safest small towns in Devon.
What is Northam's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Northam are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in Northam?
Northam's least common crime is robbery (inc. mugging).

Last updated: 31 Dec 2021