Tavistock Crime Overview

Tavistock is among the top 10 safest small towns in Devon, and is the 121st most dangerous overall out of Devon's 430 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Tavistock in 2020 was 29 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Devon's overall crime rate, coming in 74% lower than the Devon rate of 51 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Tavistock is the 108th safest small town, and the 4,810th safest location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In November 2017, Tavistock was the worst small town in Devon for drugs, with 6 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.48 per 1,000 inhabitants. March 2017 was also a bad month for Tavistock residents, when it was Devon's most dangerous small town for theft from the person, recording 1 crime at a rate of 0.08 per 1,000 residents. Tavistock recorded 6 reports of vehicle crime during August 2016, making its crime rate of 0.48 the worst small town for vehicle crime in Devon that month.

The most common crimes in Tavistock are violence and sexual offences, with 174 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 14. This is 8% lower than 2019's figure of 188 offences and a difference of 1.12 from 2019's crime rate of 15. Tavistock's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 1 offence recorded in 2020, a decrease of 100% from 2019's figure of 2 crimes.

Compare Tavistock to other towns and cities

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

Tavistock Crime Map

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Crime in Tavistock Compared To Devon

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Summary of Crimes in Tavistock This Year

 TavistockDevon 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour18915.0728,25923.5456% safer
Bicycle Theft10.084390.37362% safer
Burglary171.362,6442.2062% safer
Criminal Damage and Arson604.788,1196.7641% safer
Drugs110.883,3132.76214% safer
Other Crime90.721,6151.3588% safer
Other Theft282.234,3703.6463% safer
Possession of Weapons50.408390.7075% safer
Public Order262.074,8414.0395% safer
Robbery30.243870.3233% safer
Shoplifting191.512,8972.4160% safer
Theft From the Person30.242750.234.2% more dangerous
Vehicle Crime141.122,2621.8868% safer
Violence and Sexual Offences17413.8729,57324.6478% safer

Tavistock Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Ottery St. Mary24425.6615% safer
Bovey Tracey21327.368% safer
Seaton20827.607% safer
Northam34827.896% safer
Sidmouth42329.220.92% safer
Tavistock37029.49-
Ivybridge35129.851.2% more dangerous
Kingsteignton37833.2711% more dangerous
Cullompton37236.3519% more dangerous
Teignmouth61740.3927% more dangerous
Dawlish63641.8229% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Tavistock

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Recent Crimes in Tavistock

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Beech CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Other theftOn or near LakesideInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Other theftOn or near Petrol StationInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Other theftOn or near Petrol StationInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Other theftOn or near Petrol StationInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Pixon LaneInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Sports/Recreation AreaInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021BurglaryOn or near Maple CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Courtenay RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Plymouth RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Other theftOn or near Anderton CourtInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Green LaneInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Madge LaneInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Buddle CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Parking AreaUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Trinity WayUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Trinity WayUnable to prosecute suspect
July 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Trinity WayUnable to prosecute suspect
July 2021Other theftOn or near Deer LeapUnable to prosecute suspect
July 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Market StreetUnable to prosecute suspect

Tavistock Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour21171315Safer
Bicycle Theft0.080.080.160.08Safer
Burglary3.31.51.81.4Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson764.94.8Safer
Drugs3.02.81.80.88Safer
Other Crime1.40.720.560.72Safer
Other Theft663.82.2Safer
Possession of Weapons0.400.320.320.40Getting worse
Public Order3.32.22.92.1Safer
Robbery (inc. mugging)0.080.16-0.24Getting worse
Shoplifting2.62.11.11.5Safer
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)0.240.240.320.24Safer
Vehicle Crime1.81.41.31.1Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences18191514Safer

Changes In Tavistock's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing Tavistock to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
Tavistock29.49-
Barnet67.7156% more dangerous
Coventry77.4162% more dangerous
Croydon83.2265% more dangerous
Sheffield85.8166% more dangerous
Bristol86.2166% more dangerous
Leicester97.4470% more dangerous
Birmingham102.8771% more dangerous
Liverpool107.2873% more dangerous
Bradford133.0278% more dangerous
Leeds137.1078% more dangerous

Crime in Tavistock's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Tavistock37029First

Crime in Tavistock During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Tavistock change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in July, when Tavistock saw a 400% increase in public order. Tavistock saw a large fall in vehicle crime during May, when it fell by 86% compared to May in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour+69%-28%+35%+16%+90%+20%-+129%-33%-15%
Burglary----+100%-----
Criminal Damage and Arson--25%-83%-40%-+29%+33%+17%-33%-67%
Drugs--67%--50%----+100%-
Other Crime----------
Other Theft-----20%-60%-50%+20%--
Possession of Weapons+100%---------
Public Order-75%--60%+50%+400%-40%-80%---
Shoplifting+300%------+100%-33%-
Theft From the Person----------
Vehicle Crime---86%---50%-+200%--
Violence and Sexual Offences-77%+13%--50%+24%+167%-37%+36%+56%-55%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Tavistock

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

Last updated: 05 Oct 2021