POLICE in Teignmouth have accused the national media of ‘skewing’ figures which claim its beach has the highest crime in the UK.

Reports have claimed statistics ‘uncovered’ by a data team found 261 crimes are reported per square kilometre on Spratt Sands, higher than any other beach in the UK from July 2024 to June 2025.

But police have ‘set the record straight’ and say the reports are a ‘misleading and an inaccurate’ representation.

Sector Inspector for Teignmouth Sean Roper clarified: ‘The data cited in a recent article is based on crimes logged to a very small, specific location, 'Spratt Sand,' which is equivalent to an area approximately 14m x 14m.

‘This skews the figures, leading to a false impression of crime levels in Teignmouth.

'Over a 12-month period, 46 crimes were recorded in this specific area, which is less than four a month.

‘For context, 74 other coastal locations in the UK have a higher crime rate than Teignmouth.

‘The issue appears to be crimes reported in the wider area being logged to a single spot on our systems.

'Teignmouth remains a beautiful and safe place to live and visit. We continue to address anti-social behaviour, drug use, and other issues in our community and encourage the public to speak with us if they have concerns.’

Teignmouth Town Council has also criticised the reports saying they give a false impression of the town’s crime rate.

It says it ‘does not recognise the interpretation of crime statistics as portrayed in some national news stories’.

The council believes the reporting to be inaccurate and damaging to the town’s reputation.

Teignmouth Mayor Cllr Cate Williams said: ‘We are bitterly disappointed that several national media outlets have misrepresented the crime statistics relating to Teignmouth which, in fact, remains a safe town with very little trouble.

‘How such inaccuracies are allowed to be published is utterly baffling and downright annoying.

‘The reputational damage is of serious concern, not just to us as a town council that fights every inch of the way to improve residents’ lives, but to the businesses that rely on visitors.

‘Who could be blamed for cancelling a holiday or deciding to head elsewhere for their next trip if their only source of so-called information is the tabloids that have published this incorrect interpretation of the data?

‘I’m proud to call Teignmouth my home and know for certain that families live here happily, without the threats portrayed in these regrettable press stories, and that many more return here regularly for some great old-fashioned sand, sea and sunshine.

‘I say to anyone reading this across the country and beyond, Teignmouth is a cracking seaside town which is well worth a visit, wish you were here.’

The stories described Teignmouth as having the country’s ‘most crime-ridden beach’.

And they claimed residents have described witnessing violent assaults, no longer feeling safe walking through the town because of ‘armed teens’