Crime in Carmarthenshire: statistics, rates and trends

16,454 crimes were recorded in Carmarthenshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 7,499 reports (46% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Carmarthenshire has the 152nd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Carmarthenshire was highest in the year to July 2022 (17,333 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (10,643). Over the whole period it rose 4%, 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 Carmarthenshire 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 criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+30%) and bicycle theft (+23%). The largest falls were in robbery (-22%) and drugs (-20%).

Violence and sexual offences in Carmarthenshire

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Carmarthenshire recorded 7,499 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 45.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Carmarthenshire

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Carmarthenshire recorded 2,053 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 12.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Carmarthenshire

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Carmarthenshire recorded 1,632 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Carmarthenshire

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Carmarthenshire recorded 1,256 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Carmarthenshire

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Carmarthenshire recorded 894 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Carmarthenshire

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Carmarthenshire recorded 893 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Carmarthenshire

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Carmarthenshire recorded 546 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Carmarthenshire

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Carmarthenshire recorded 533 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Carmarthenshire

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Carmarthenshire recorded 463 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Carmarthenshire

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Carmarthenshire recorded 357 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Carmarthenshire

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Carmarthenshire recorded 165 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 20% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Carmarthenshire

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Carmarthenshire recorded 65 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 8% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Carmarthenshire

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Carmarthenshire recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Carmarthenshire

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Carmarthenshire recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

81 areas within Carmarthenshire, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Tyisha had the highest rate (267.0 per 1,000) and Cynwyl Elfed the lowest (18.7). 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 Carmarthenshire over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Carmarthenshire 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.

Carmarthenshire has an estimated population of 190,800. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Carmarthenshire sits in decile 5.2, close to the middle. 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 Carmarthenshire. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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