Crime in Wales: statistics, rates and trends
304,944 crimes were recorded in Wales in the 12 months to July 2026, 95.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
304,944 crimes were recorded in Wales in the 12 months to July 2026, 95.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 119,205 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 2 countries covered by this site, Wales has the 2nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Wales | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 304,944 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 95.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +0% | -1% |
| Population | 3,186,581 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Wales was highest in the year to July 2020 (324,691 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (300,830). Over the whole period it fell 1%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 304,944 | 95.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 304,486 | 95.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 300,830 | 94.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 308,549 | 96.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 309,909 | 97.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 323,378 | 101.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 324,691 | 101.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 313,172 | 98.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 306,489 | 96.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 31,057 |
| June 2026 | 26,753 |
| May 2026 | 28,770 |
| April 2026 | 26,953 |
| March 2026 | 25,310 |
| February 2026 | 21,983 |
| January 2026 | 22,805 |
| December 2025 | 22,064 |
| November 2025 | 24,050 |
| October 2025 | 25,087 |
| September 2025 | 23,212 |
| August 2025 | 26,900 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Wales over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for public order.
The largest increases were in robbery (+40%) and possession of weapons (+18%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-14%) and bicycle theft (-12%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 119,205 | 37.4 | 1.09 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 48,639 | 15.3 | 1.00 | +3% |
| Public order | 29,470 | 9.2 | 1.39 | +1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25,779 | 8.1 | 1.19 | -3% |
| Shoplifting | 23,203 | 7.3 | 0.88 | -1% |
| Other theft | 15,763 | 4.9 | 0.77 | -5% |
| Vehicle crime | 11,182 | 3.5 | 0.71 | +7% |
| Burglary | 8,558 | 2.7 | 0.76 | -5% |
| Drugs | 8,352 | 2.6 | 0.80 | -9% |
| Other crime | 7,249 | 2.3 | 1.08 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 2,947 | 0.9 | 0.95 | +18% |
| Robbery | 1,786 | 0.6 | 0.41 | +40% |
| Bicycle theft | 1,705 | 0.5 | 0.65 | -12% |
| Theft from the person | 1,106 | 0.3 | 0.21 | -14% |
Violence and sexual offences in Wales
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wales recorded 119,205 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 39.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Wales
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wales recorded 48,639 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 16.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Wales
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wales recorded 29,470 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Wales
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wales recorded 25,779 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Wales
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wales recorded 23,203 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Wales
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wales recorded 15,763 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Wales
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wales recorded 11,182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Wales
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wales recorded 8,558 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Wales
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wales recorded 8,352 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Wales
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wales recorded 7,249 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Wales
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wales recorded 2,947 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Wales
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wales recorded 1,786 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Wales
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wales recorded 1,705 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Wales
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wales recorded 1,106 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the countries closest to Wales, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Wales.
| Country | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 5,360,756 | 96.4 | +1% |
22 areas within Wales, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Blaenau Gwent had the highest rate (146.7 per 1,000) and Vale of Glamorgan the lowest (72.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaenau Gwent | District | 67,873 | 9,956 | 146.7 |
| Newport | District | 167,899 | 22,735 | 135.4 |
| Torfaen | District | 94,119 | 11,796 | 125.3 |
| Denbighshire | District | 98,202 | 11,075 | 112.8 |
| Cardiff | District | 383,919 | 42,057 | 109.5 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | District | 58,972 | 6,367 | 108.0 |
| Conwy | District | 114,891 | 12,295 | 107.0 |
| Caerphilly | District | 176,865 | 18,746 | 106.0 |
| Wrexham | District | 138,245 | 13,987 | 101.2 |
| Ceredigion | District | 72,599 | 6,707 | 92.4 |
| Pembrokeshire | District | 125,761 | 11,292 | 89.8 |
| Gwynedd | District | 120,813 | 10,616 | 87.9 |
| Carmarthenshire | District | 190,800 | 16,454 | 86.2 |
| Swansea | District | 251,304 | 21,537 | 85.7 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | District | 242,844 | 20,613 | 84.9 |
| Bridgend | District | 147,530 | 12,344 | 83.7 |
| Neath Port Talbot | District | 143,249 | 11,633 | 81.2 |
| Monmouthshire | District | 94,930 | 7,550 | 79.5 |
| Flintshire | District | 155,867 | 12,032 | 77.2 |
| Powys | District | 135,059 | 10,340 | 76.6 |
| Isle of Anglesey | District | 69,097 | 5,028 | 72.8 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | District | 135,743 | 9,784 | 72.1 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wales over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 98,600 | 32.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 66,321 | 21.7% |
| Not recorded | 48,639 | 16.0% |
| Under investigation | 40,276 | 13.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15,341 | 5.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 13,079 | 4.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 7,383 | 2.4% |
| Local resolution | 7,350 | 2.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2,858 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2,083 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1,142 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 1,058 | 0.3% |
Wales has an estimated population of 3,186,581. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wales sits in decile 5.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Wales |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.4% |
| Social rented homes | 16.5% |
| Private rented homes | 17.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 9.5% |
Is Wales a safe place to live?
Wales recorded 95.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Wales?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 119,205 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (48,639).
Is crime in Wales going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wales was almost unchanged on the year before: 304,944 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 304,486 in the previous 12 months.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Wales. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.