Crime in Blaenau Gwent: statistics, rates and trends

9,956 crimes were recorded in Blaenau Gwent in the 12 months to July 2026, 146.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,498 reports (35% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Blaenau Gwent has the 15th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Blaenau Gwent was highest in the year to July 2026 (9,956 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (7,233). Over the whole period it rose 33%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Blaenau Gwent 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+28%) and robbery (+21%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-36%) and shoplifting (-34%).

Violence and sexual offences in Blaenau Gwent

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Blaenau Gwent recorded 3,498 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (51.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 35.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Blaenau Gwent

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Blaenau Gwent recorded 2,038 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 20.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Blaenau Gwent

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Blaenau Gwent recorded 1,135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 11.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Blaenau Gwent

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Blaenau Gwent recorded 1,061 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 10.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Blaenau Gwent

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Blaenau Gwent recorded 528 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 28% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Blaenau Gwent

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Blaenau Gwent recorded 474 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Blaenau Gwent

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Blaenau Gwent recorded 342 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Blaenau Gwent

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Blaenau Gwent recorded 300 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Blaenau Gwent

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Blaenau Gwent recorded 266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Blaenau Gwent

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Blaenau Gwent recorded 160 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Blaenau Gwent

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Blaenau Gwent recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Blaenau Gwent

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Blaenau Gwent recorded 41 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 21% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Blaenau Gwent

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Blaenau Gwent recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Blaenau Gwent

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Blaenau Gwent recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Blaenau Gwent, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Blaenau Gwent.

23 areas within Blaenau Gwent, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ebbw Vale South had the highest rate (265.9 per 1,000) and Cwm the lowest (68.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Blaenau Gwent over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Blaenau Gwent 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.

Blaenau Gwent has an estimated population of 67,873. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Blaenau Gwent sits in decile 3.6, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Blaenau Gwent. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.