Crap Towns / Barnstaple / Crime

How much crime is there in Barnstaple?

The police recorded 98.1 crimes per 1,000 people a year in Barnstaple from September 2023 to August 2026, 29% higher than the typical town's 76.2. The most common was violence and sexual offences, at 45.8. In the 12 months to August 2026 it was 99.4, up from 92.8 in the 12 months to August 2024.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical town
September 2023 to August 2024	92.8	78.6
September 2024 to August 2025	102	77.4
September 2025 to August 2026	99.4	73.7

**By type**
Crime	Here	Typical town
Violence and sexual offences	45.8	34.1
Shoplifting	14.5	7.1
Criminal damage and arson	10.4	7.0
Public order	8.1	6.6
Other theft	5.6	5.4
Drugs	3.6	2.4
Burglary	2.6	3.1
Other crime	2.3	2.0
Vehicle crime	1.6	3.8
Possession of weapons	1.2	0.8
Bicycle theft	0.8	0.5
Theft from the person	0.8	0.4
Robbery	0.7	0.6

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Crimes per 1,000 people a year
Ilfracombe	14.8 km	105
Minehead	42.8 km	98.3
Barnstaple	–	98.1
Crediton	43.1 km	75.0
Bideford	12.7 km	73.8
Okehampton	37.6 km	62.2
South Molton	16.9 km	50.9
Great Torrington	15.3 km	43.3
Braunton	8.0 km	34.9
Northam	11.8 km	26.6
Fremington	6.7 km	24.7
The typical town	–	76.2