Plymouth is the largest city on the south-west coast, and its crime profile splits sharply between the waterfront centre and the suburbs to the east and north. The PL1 city centre sits in a completely different crime environment from the settled residential areas around Plympton (PL7) and Plymstock (PL9). Knowing where a postcode falls on that spectrum matters a great deal for naval families, students, and anyone relocating to the city.
This breakdown uses recent data from the official UK Police API, covering the postcode districts that fall within the Devon and Cornwall Police force area.
Plymouth Crime at a Glance
Devon and Cornwall Police covers Plymouth and the wider region. Within the city, crime is concentrated in the centre and the older inner-city districts, while the eastern suburbs and outer fringes record consistently lower counts.
| Postcode | Area | Character | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL1 | City centre / Hoe / Stonehouse | Commercial, nightlife and waterfront | Higher |
| PL4 | Mount Gould / Lipson / St Judes | Inner-city, university overspill | Higher |
| PL2 | Devonport / Keyham / North Prospect | Naval-base district, mixed | Medium |
| PL5 | Whitleigh / Honicknowle / Crownhill | Outer estates, mixed | Medium |
| PL3 | Mutley / Mannamead / Hartley | Established residential, popular with families | Lower |
| PL6 | Derriford / Estover / Glenholt | Hospital and science park, suburban | Lower |
| PL7 | Plympton | Eastern suburb, owner-occupied | Lower |
| PL9 | Plymstock / Hooe / Turnchapel | South-eastern suburb across the Plym | Lower |
Source: data.police.uk. Risk level is relative within the Plymouth area.
The Safest Parts of Plymouth
The most consistently low-crime parts of the city sit to the east and north. Plympton (PL7) is a settled suburb of owner-occupied housing with limited through-traffic, and it routinely records some of the lowest crime counts in the city. Plymstock (PL9), across the Plym estuary, has a similar profile and is a popular choice for families.
Closer to the centre, Mutley and Mannamead (PL3) stand out as established residential streets that buck the inner-city pattern, and Derriford (PL6) — anchored by the hospital and Plymouth Science Park — sits in the lower-to-medium band.
Crime Hotspots in Plymouth
The PL1 centre, taking in the Barbican, the Hoe, the city-centre shopping core and Stonehouse, records the highest crime counts in the city. Violence and sexual offences, public order, and theft are all elevated, driven by the night-time economy and the concentration of footfall along the waterfront.
The inner-city PL4 district, covering Mount Gould, Lipson and the streets around the university, has historically seen elevated anti-social behaviour and theft, partly tied to dense student housing. Parts of Devonport (PL2) have a more mixed profile, with deprivation above the national average in places.
What Crime Types Dominate in Plymouth?
Across the Devon and Cornwall force area, violence and sexual offences consistently tops the crime category table. In the PL1 centre, public order and theft are lifted by the night-time economy, while anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime are the more common concerns in the inner-city districts. The eastern suburbs see far lower counts across all categories.
How to Check Your Plymouth Postcode
District-level data gives you the broad picture, but the difference between the city centre and the eastern suburbs is significant. See our national safest-areas rankings for wider context, or run a CrimeSafe report for 24 months of trend data, a ward-level breakdown, outcome rates, and a safety score for any Plymouth postcode.