Crime in Neath Port Talbot: statistics, rates and trends

11,633 crimes were recorded in Neath Port Talbot in the 12 months to July 2026, 81.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 5,214 reports (45% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Neath Port Talbot has the 175th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Neath Port Talbot was highest in the year to July 2021 (14,075 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (11,289). 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Neath Port Talbot 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 (+119%) and possession of weapons (+19%). The largest falls were in drugs (-30%) and bicycle theft (-23%).

Violence and sexual offences in Neath Port Talbot

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Neath Port Talbot recorded 5,214 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 44.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Neath Port Talbot

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Neath Port Talbot recorded 1,560 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 13.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Neath Port Talbot

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Neath Port Talbot recorded 1,462 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 12.6% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Neath Port Talbot

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Neath Port Talbot recorded 891 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Neath Port Talbot

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Neath Port Talbot recorded 606 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Neath Port Talbot

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Neath Port Talbot recorded 583 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Neath Port Talbot

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Neath Port Talbot recorded 311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Neath Port Talbot

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Neath Port Talbot recorded 287 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Neath Port Talbot

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Neath Port Talbot recorded 276 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Neath Port Talbot

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Neath Port Talbot recorded 240 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Neath Port Talbot

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Neath Port Talbot recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Neath Port Talbot

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Neath Port Talbot recorded 46 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 119% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Neath Port Talbot

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Neath Port Talbot recorded 34 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 23% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Neath Port Talbot

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Neath Port Talbot recorded 34 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 8% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

55 areas within Neath Port Talbot, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Neath North had the highest rate (288.0 per 1,000) and Bryn-coch North the lowest (15.8). 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 Neath Port Talbot over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Neath Port Talbot 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.

Neath Port Talbot has an estimated population of 143,249. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Neath Port Talbot sits in decile 4.4, 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 Neath Port Talbot. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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