Sidmouth Crime Overview

Sidmouth is among the top 10 safest small towns in Devon, and is the 124th most dangerous overall out of Devon's 430 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Sidmouth in 2020 was 29 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Devon's overall crime rate, coming in 76% lower than the Devon rate of 51 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Sidmouth is the 105th safest small town, and the 4,756th safest location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In April 2020, Sidmouth was the worst small town in Devon for shoplifting, with 7 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.48 per 1,000 inhabitants. June 2020 was also a bad month for Sidmouth residents, when it was Devon's most dangerous small town for theft from the person, recording 1 crime at a rate of 0.07 per 1,000 residents. Sidmouth recorded 4 reports of other crime during October 2020, making its crime rate of 0.28 the worst small town for other crime in Devon that month.

The most common crimes in Sidmouth are violence and sexual offences, with 171 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 12. This is 1.2% lower than 2019's figure of 173 offences and a difference of 0.14 from 2019's crime rate of 12. Sidmouth's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 4 offences recorded in 2020, an increase of 75% from 2019's figure of 1 crime.

Compare Sidmouth to other towns and cities

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

Sidmouth Crime Map

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Crime in Sidmouth Compared To Devon

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Summary of Crimes in Sidmouth This Year

 SidmouthDevon 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour27018.6528,25923.5426% safer
Bicycle Theft70.484390.3723% more dangerous
Burglary302.072,6442.206% safer
Criminal Damage and Arson684.708,1196.7644% safer
Drugs181.243,3132.76123% safer
Other Crime120.831,6151.3563% safer
Other Theft352.424,3703.6450% safer
Possession of Weapons40.288390.70150% safer
Public Order342.354,8414.0371% safer
Shoplifting191.312,8972.4184% safer
Theft From the Person40.282750.2318% more dangerous
Vehicle Crime211.452,2621.8830% safer
Violence and Sexual Offences17111.8129,57324.64109% safer

Sidmouth Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Fremington29725.1116% safer
Ottery St. Mary24425.6614% safer
Bovey Tracey21327.367% safer
Seaton20827.606% safer
Northam34827.894.8% safer
Sidmouth42329.22-
Tavistock37029.490.92% more dangerous
Ivybridge35129.852.1% more dangerous
Kingsteignton37833.2712% more dangerous
Cullompton37236.3520% more dangerous
Teignmouth61740.3928% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Sidmouth

View crime percentage over time for

Recent Crimes in Sidmouth

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Arcot GardensUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021BurglaryOn or near Bennetts HillInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Lymebourne LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Lymebourne LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near The GroveUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near PathwhorlandsOffender given a caution
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Chapel StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Chapel StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Woolbrook CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Parking AreaInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Public orderOn or near BalfoursUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Fore StreetInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Fore StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Other theftOn or near Sports/Recreation AreaInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Parking AreaUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Bicycle theftOn or near Lower WheathillInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Bicycle theftOn or near Primley MeadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Warrens MeadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
October 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Howarth CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
October 2021Bicycle theftOn or near Salters MeadowInvestigation complete; no suspect identified

Sidmouth Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour14151519Getting worse
Bicycle Theft0.760.620.550.48Safer
Burglary3.43.42.52.1Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson4.94.94.84.7Safer
Drugs0.351.20.971.2Getting worse
Other Crime0.830.480.410.83Getting worse
Other Theft563.52.4Safer
Possession of Weapons0.070.280.070.28Getting worse
Public Order2.62.62.52.4Safer
Shoplifting2.12.52.51.3Safer
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)0.350.760.280.28Safer
Vehicle Crime2.13.31.41.4Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences12151212Safer

Changes In Sidmouth's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing Sidmouth to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
Sidmouth29.22-
Barnet67.7157% more dangerous
Coventry77.4162% more dangerous
Croydon83.2265% more dangerous
Sheffield85.8166% more dangerous
Bristol86.2166% more dangerous
Leicester97.4470% more dangerous
Birmingham102.8772% more dangerous
Liverpool107.2873% more dangerous
Bradford133.0278% more dangerous
Leeds137.1079% more dangerous

Crime in Sidmouth's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Sidmouth Sidford24234First
Sidmouth Town12123Second

Crime in Sidmouth During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Sidmouth change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in December, when Sidmouth saw a 600% increase in criminal damage and arson. Sidmouth saw a large fall in shoplifting during October, when it fell by 86% compared to October in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour-38%+57%+83%-13%+109%+37%+41%+7%+36%-35%
Bicycle Theft----------
Burglary-33%--60%-+200%+100%-+50%--75%
Criminal Damage and Arson-64%-13%-50%+75%+400%-33%+17%+200%-+600%
Drugs---33%+100%--50%--+150%+300%
Other Crime-------+300%-50%-
Other Theft--50%-40%+300%---50%-25%-44%+33%
Public Order-+200%-80%-50%+100%--20%-67%-33%+100%
Shoplifting+33%-------86%--
Vehicle Crime-+250%-33%+100%--50%-+100%-67%-67%
Violence and Sexual Offences+73%+15%--46%+100%-36%+46%-35%-26%-25%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Sidmouth

What police force serves Sidmouth?
Sidmouth's local territorial police force is the Devon & Cornwall Police.
How dangerous is Sidmouth?
Sidmouth is among the top 10 safest small towns in Devon.
What is Sidmouth's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Sidmouth are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in Sidmouth?
Sidmouth's least common crimes are possession of weapons.

Last updated: 31 Dec 2021