Crime and Safety in Torquay, Devon
Last updated: 07 Jun 2026
Torquay is the most dangerous medium-sized town in Devon, and is among the top 5 most dangerous overall out of Devon's 403 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Torquay in 2026 is 109 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Devon's overall crime rate, coming in 77% higher than the Devon rate of 62 per 1,000 daytime population. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Torquay is among the top 20 most dangerous medium-sized towns, and the 390th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In June 2025, Torquay had the worst crime rate in Devon for robbery, with 7 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.13 per 1,000 daytime population. June 2024 was also a bad month for Torquay residents, when it was again Devon's most dangerous area for robbery, recording 8 crimes at a rate of 0.14 per 1,000 daytime population.
The most common crimes in Torquay are violence and sexual offences, with 3,096 offences during 2026, giving a crime rate of 55. This is 3.5% higher than 2025's figure of 2,990 offences and a difference of 1.88 from 2025's crime rate of 54. Torquay's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 27 offences recorded in 2026, an increase of 3.8% from 2025's figure of 26 crimes.
Torquay 2026 Crime Scorecard
Most Dangerous
Medium-Sized Towns, Devon
79% higher, regional crime rate
South West
52% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
Local Crime in Context
As of April 2026, the crime rate in Torquay is 79% higher than the South West and 52% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
Torquay Crime Rate Over Time
| Torquay | |
| South West | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Torquay Crime Map
Incidents mapped in Torquay represent the time frame between January 2016 and April 2026. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Use Crime Map
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualise the data you need.
See How Torquay Compares
You can compare Torquay's crime statistics against any other town, village, or city from across the country. Search for a location's name below to see how they stack up.
Introduction to Torquay's crime statistics
This crime profile provides a detailed view of crime and safety around Torquay up to April 2026, the most recent data release available. The crime figures and statistics have been calculated across each of Torquay's 1,398 postcodes using three area sizes for comparison:
- Within a Five-Minute Walk
- Within a Ten-Minute Walk
- Within a Fifteen-Minute Walk
Individual crime risk scores and index figures are for the 12-month period ending April 2026 unless otherwise stated.
CrimeRate Insights
Looking into a specific address in Torquay? CrimeRate Insights reports convert raw numbers into practical insight for any location, from single addresses and postcodes, up to major towns and cities.
Crime rates don’t happen by themselves; they follow people and patterns. Where crowds gather - near pubs and late-night venues, around the station, by supermarkets and forecourts - incidents naturally concentrate.
That doesn’t mean an area is "bad"; it usually means footfall is higher.
Your report explores these factors in a calm, non-judgemental way, putting the numbers in context and helping you spot what’s typical for places like this.
Crime Risk Scores
Torquay • 12 Months Ending April 2026
The typical five-minute walk within Torquay has a crime risk score of 746. This is based on analysis of 1,398 nearby areas within Torquay, with "most" referring to roughly two thirds of the nearby locations.
Crime risk scores are on a scale of 1 to 1,000 and consider the severity of the crimes involved, as determined by sentencing guidelines. A score of 1 represents the lowest risk, and 1,000 the highest risk. This approach ensures that - unlike overall crime rate figures - bicycle theft is not given the same importance in Torquay's risk scores as, for example, robbery, or violence & sexual offences.
Within a five-minute walk of the typical location in Torquay, crime risk scores are typically around 746, while in Devon they are average 560.
Areas within a ten-minute walk typically see crime risk scores of 808 (565 for Devon), and scores within a fifteen-minute walk are most often around 830 (Devon 560).
Trends in Crime Risk
Torquay
Calculated via Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess, the Seasonality Adjusted line represents the original data with seasonality subtracted, and the Trend line has been plotted unadjusted. Overall trend direction has been identified using the Mann-Kendall trend test, and rate calculated from the slope of the best-fit line identified from linear regression.
The 10-year trend indicates a decrease of 10% in Torquay's crime risk score. This is potentially a strong signal of how the crime risk is evolving. Cross-referencing with major cultural events and Covid's impact during this time is advised.
Looking at the previous five years, the trend in Torquay's crime risk score is up by 17%. While potentially a good indicator of the overall risk trend, analysis may offer further insight when combined with the checks mentioned above.
Over the last year, Torquay's crime risk score has shown an upward trend of approximately 12%, indicating that the risk profile is going up. This is an extremely short time period for crime trend analysis, and caution should be exercised when interpreting this figure.
Crime Rates and Indexes
Torquay
The CrimeRate Index shows how crime rates compare against the national average.
1.0 equals the average
2.0 is double
3.0 triple
0.5 is half and
0.25 a quarter.
Highest Crime Rates
Torquay • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Excluding other crime and other theft because their geographic location is often not relevant, anti-social behaviour as its definition is too wide, and bicycle theft for its specificity.
Possession of Weapons offences have a crime rate of 1.81 reports per 1,000 people in Torquay, which is 2.13 times the national average. This figure is calculated from 101 crime reports logged by Devon & Cornwall Police during the 12-month period ending April 2026.
For the same period, Devon & Cornwall Police recorded 3,096 reports of Violence and Sexual Offences in Torquay, resulting in a crime rate of 55 reports per 1,000, and a CrimeRate Index of 1.82.
The crime rate for Criminal Damage and Arson is 1.75 times the national average at 11 reports per 1,000. This is from 614 crime reports reported to Devon & Cornwall Police.
Most Significant 3-Year Increases in Crime Types
Torquay
Excluding other crime and other theft, anti-social behaviour, and bicycle theft, and calculated with the same STL method described in Trends in Crime Risk, using CrimeRate Index figures to identify crime types that are trending above or below the national average, and the analysis timeframe limited to the last three years.
Violence and Sexual Offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.84 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Violence and Sexual Offences CrimeRate Index was 0.58 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 217% over this timeframe.
Burglary offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.21 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Burglary CrimeRate Index was 0.37 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 227% over this timeframe.
Possession of Weapons offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.86 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Possession of Weapons CrimeRate Index was 0.57 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 226% over this timeframe.
Most Significant 3-Year Decreases in Crime Types
Torquay
Calculated with the same methodology as the largest increases section above.
Shoplifting offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.89 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Shoplifting CrimeRate Index was 0.08 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 2262% over this timeframe.
Crime Type Breakdown & Heat Map
Torquay • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Size and colour reflect the CrimeRate Index figures for each type of crime.
Torquay | Devon | South West | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Type | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 1,197 | 21.43 | 1.52 | 14,607 | 10.70 | 0.76 | 82,030 | 12.62 | 0.89 |
| Bicycle Theft | 27 | 0.50 | 0.83 | 569 | 0.41 | 0.56 | 3,702 | 0.54 | 0.74 |
| Burglary | 167 | 3.00 | 0.96 | 2,566 | 1.86 | 0.59 | 15,750 | 2.42 | 0.77 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 614 | 10.99 | 1.75 | 8,474 | 6.20 | 0.99 | 36,459 | 5.64 | 0.90 |
| Drugs | 278 | 4.96 | 1.61 | 2,715 | 1.99 | 0.64 | 10,358 | 1.60 | 0.52 |
| Other Crime | 130 | 2.31 | 1.25 | 2,063 | 1.50 | 0.81 | 8,931 | 1.38 | 0.75 |
| Other Theft | 474 | 8.47 | 1.49 | 6,727 | 4.91 | 0.86 | 31,450 | 4.85 | 0.85 |
| Possession of Weapons | 101 | 1.81 | 2.13 | 1,242 | 0.90 | 1.06 | 3,967 | 0.62 | 0.73 |
| Public Order | 398 | 7.11 | 1.23 | 6,162 | 4.50 | 0.78 | 36,669 | 5.63 | 0.97 |
| Robbery | 61 | 1.11 | 0.94 | 561 | 0.40 | 0.34 | 4,567 | 0.70 | 0.59 |
| Shoplifting | 534 | 9.56 | 1.34 | 7,254 | 5.30 | 0.74 | 37,365 | 5.76 | 0.81 |
| Theft From the Person | 63 | 1.14 | 0.74 | 607 | 0.44 | 0.28 | 2,043 | 0.33 | 0.21 |
| Vehicle Crime | 171 | 3.07 | 0.71 | 2,359 | 1.75 | 0.41 | 16,666 | 2.56 | 0.60 |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 3,096 | 55.40 | 1.82 | 43,244 | 31.62 | 1.04 | 189,257 | 29.13 | 0.96 |
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Total Crime by Year
Torquay | Devon | South West | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| 2026 | 6,114 | 109.43 | 1.52 | 84,543 | 61.78 | 0.86 | 397,184 | 61.16 | 0.85 |
| 2025 | 6,278 | 112.69 | 1.52 | 83,193 | 61.39 | 0.83 | 402,192 | 62.40 | 0.84 |
| 2024 | 4,267 | 76.96 | 1.02 | 56,860 | 42.28 | 0.56 | 357,420 | 55.92 | 0.74 |
| 2023 | 4,862 | 88.35 | 1.12 | 62,696 | 47.11 | 0.60 | 360,086 | 56.89 | 0.72 |
| 2022 | 5,296 | 96.92 | 1.27 | 64,490 | 49.13 | 0.64 | 351,958 | 56.19 | 0.73 |
| 2021 | 5,107 | 93.85 | 1.37 | 60,586 | 46.74 | 0.68 | 311,592 | 50.21 | 0.73 |
| 2020 | 5,258 | 96.90 | 1.31 | 66,378 | 51.61 | 0.70 | 343,342 | 55.68 | 0.75 |
| 2019 | 5,869 | 108.50 | 1.43 | 72,309 | 56.53 | 0.74 | 348,574 | 56.87 | 0.75 |
| 2018 | 5,939 | 111.05 | 1.57 | 70,466 | 55.35 | 0.78 | 340,408 | 55.87 | 0.79 |
| 2017 | 4,918 | 93.12 | 1.46 | 58,856 | 46.67 | 0.73 | 312,784 | 51.72 | 0.81 |
| 2016 | 1,361 | 25.90 | 1.36 | 16,752 | 13.33 | 0.70 | 92,229 | 15.29 | 0.80 |
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Torquay Compared to Nearby Medium-Sized Towns
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| Medium-Sized Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torquay | 6,114 | 109.43 | - |
| Newton Abbot | 2,062 | 65.40 | 40% safer |
| Exmouth | 1,958 | 52.90 | 52% safer |
Comparing Torquay to the UK's Major Cities
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| City Name | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 79.55 | 27% safer |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 82.69 | 24% safer |
| Sheffield | 84.09 | 23% safer |
| Leicester | 97.87 | 11% safer |
| Bristol | 104.64 | 4.4% safer |
| Birmingham | 105.05 | 4.0% safer |
| Liverpool | 106.48 | 2.7% safer |
| Leeds | 107.10 | 2.1% safer |
| Nottingham | 107.74 | 1.5% safer |
| Torquay | 109.43 | - |
| Westminster | 125.00 | 14% more dangerous |
CrimeRate Pro
To download charts and tables, you must subscribed to CrimeRate Pro
You can find out more, or get a CrimeRate Insights report that includes further analysis.
Offences In and Around Torquay's Parks & Leisure Spaces
Limited to spaces in Torquay that are named and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries in the 12 months to Apr 2026.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellacombe Green | 21 | 2 | 3 | - | 35 | 25 |
| Torre Abbey Meadows | 4 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 4 |
| The Acorn Centre | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 10 |
| Chapel Hill Pleasure Grounds | 7 | - | 1 | - | 18 | 8 |
| Cricketfield Community Garden | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 |
| Lindisfarne | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 11 | 9 |
| The Rose Garden | 3 | - | - | - | 11 | 6 |
| Riviera International Centre | 38 | 1 | 2 | - | 12 | 25 |
| The Downs | 1 | - | 2 | - | 5 | 6 |
| South Parks Allotments | 2 | 1 | - | - | 8 | 4 |
| Beechfield Avenue Allotments | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| Barton Downs | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 10 |
| King George V Playing Field | 1 | - | 1 | - | 12 | 7 |
| Torre Valley North Playing Field | 6 | 1 | 7 | - | 11 | 11 |
| Stantaway Allotments | - | - | - | - | 3 | 1 |
| Upton Park Bowling Green | - | - | 1 | - | 5 | 2 |
| Castle Gardens | 4 | - | - | 2 | 9 | 15 |
| Ben Venue Allotments | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 4 |
| Windsor Road | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | 24 | 3 |
| Quinta Viewpoint Allotments | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| Wellswood Park | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 5 |
| Stoodley Knowle Playing Field | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Abbey Park | 34 | 2 | 5 | - | 12 | 40 |
| The King's Gardens | 4 | 1 | 2 | - | 3 | 7 |
| Tessier Gardens | 7 | 1 | - | - | 19 | 4 |
| Belmont Park | 4 | 2 | - | 1 | 30 | 10 |
| Lower Ellacombe Park | 6 | 2 | 2 | - | 18 | 8 |
| Cary Park | 5 | - | 2 | - | 32 | 10 |
| Royal Terrace Gardens | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
| Princess Gardens | 5 | - | 2 | 1 | 10 | 4 |
| Torwood Gardens | 1 | - | - | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| Manor Gardens | 7 | 1 | 3 | - | 4 | 9 |
| Cary Green | 34 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 91 | 29 |
Recent Crimes in Torquay
The 20 most recent crime reports in Torquay.
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Madrepore Road | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Lower Union Lane | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Madrepore Road | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Museum Way | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Museum Way | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Museum Way | |
| April 2026 | Other crime | On or near Cayman Close | |
| April 2026 | Other theft | On or near Cary Park Road | |
| April 2026 | Robbery | On or near St Edmund'S Road | |
| April 2026 | Robbery | On or near Pavor Road | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near St Edmund'S Road | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near St Edmund'S Road | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Madrepore Road | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near St Edmund'S Road | |
| April 2026 | Vehicle crime | On or near Morgan Avenue | |
| April 2026 | Vehicle crime | On or near Homestead Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Shedden Hill Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Edgeley Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Bethel Terrace | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Morgan Avenue |
Methodology & Data Sources
Torquay Crime Report
Data Sources & Processing
Every month, CrimeRate processes crime reports from data.police.uk, the UK's official provider of open crime report data. Each crime report includes anonymised coordinates, most often "snapped" to the middle of the nearest street, or to the nearest major landmark. The reports also include the month and year the crime was reported, as well as the type of crime.
Data releases on data.police.uk happen once a month, with a two-month delay. This means that, for example, crimes reported in Torquay during August 2026 will typically become available in October 2026. The latest release is for Apr 2026 and was released in Jun 2026. To provide current and historical crime statistics, CrimeRate processed 61,669,232 crime reports for the latest release.
Torquay Data Points
For Torquay, CrimeRate uses the geographic boundaries provided by The Office for National Statistics in the December 2022 release of their Built Up Areas dataset, using the BUA22CD column value E63006890.
Due to the 2021 Census being conducted during a UK-wide Coronavirus lockdown, the daytime population figures released so far cannot be relied on for purposes such as comparing crime rates. Instead, CrimeRate uses Torquay's daytime - or "workday" - population of 44,812 from the ONS 2011 Census for calculations throughout the site.
All geographic boundaries use the full resolution - extent of the realm versions where provided to avoid missing crime reports near coastlines and rivers - the banks of the Thames in particular - that would otherwise not be included when using the clipped to the coastline datasets.
Calculating Crime Rates
CrimeRate locates the UK region, county, and town/city/village locality for each crime report, and calculates the crime rate by taking the sum of all crime reports, dividing it by the locality's daytime / "workday" population, and multiplying the result by 1,000 to get the crime rate per 1,000.
Crime Risk Score Calculations
CrimeRate calculates crime counts for local, nearby, and wider areas for every postcode in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The postcodes locations are deduplicated by a process that ensures distinct points are approximately 50 metres apart. This process removes the bias that would otherwise come from counting the same crimes several times in heavily populated areas.
Using a custom algorithm developed in-house, CrimeRate applies a crime severity weighting to each area's crime counts, based on the type of crime reported. This increases or decreases the crime count, or zeroes it out entirely, depending on the crime type. A separate crime severity rate is then calculated, standardised, and scaled to fit the crime risk score range of 1 to 1,000, with 1 being the lowest score, and 1,000 the highest.
Crime risk scores undergo further analysis per town, city, and village plus other areas including police forces and neighbourhoods. CrimeRate uses percentiles to work out the most common range of crime risk scores in each locality. This includes identifying the high and low bounds where approximately 68% of scores fall, and finding the median (50th percentile) for easy reference.
The crime types with a weight of zero are: Anti-Social Behaviour; Bicycle Theft; Other Crime; Other Theft; and Shoplifting. The highest weights to are assigned to Violence & Sexual Offences, and the lowest to Vehicle Crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crime in Torquay