Crime in Gwynedd: statistics, rates and trends

10,616 crimes were recorded in Gwynedd in the 12 months to July 2026, 87.9 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 4,184 reports (39% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Gwynedd has the 141st highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Gwynedd was highest in the year to July 2022 (12,211 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (10,111). Over the whole period it rose 2%, 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 Gwynedd 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. The largest increases were in robbery (+36%) and burglary (+20%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-30%).

Violence and sexual offences in Gwynedd

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Gwynedd recorded 4,184 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 39.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Gwynedd

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Gwynedd recorded 2,205 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 20.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Gwynedd

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Gwynedd recorded 924 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Gwynedd

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Gwynedd recorded 794 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Gwynedd

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Gwynedd recorded 750 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Gwynedd

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Gwynedd recorded 648 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Gwynedd

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Gwynedd recorded 280 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Gwynedd

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Gwynedd recorded 279 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Gwynedd

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Gwynedd recorded 201 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Gwynedd

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Gwynedd recorded 162 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Gwynedd

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Gwynedd recorded 100 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Gwynedd

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Gwynedd recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Gwynedd

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Gwynedd recorded 30 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 30% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Gwynedd

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Gwynedd recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

85 areas within Gwynedd, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Canol Tref Caernarfon had the highest rate (289.1 per 1,000) and Y Bontnewydd the lowest (18.0). 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 Gwynedd over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Gwynedd 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.

Gwynedd has an estimated population of 120,813. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Gwynedd sits in decile 5.5, 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 Gwynedd. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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