Crime in Powys: statistics, rates and trends

10,340 crimes were recorded in Powys in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 4,551 reports (44% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Powys has the 199th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Powys was highest in the year to July 2026 (10,340 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (6,620). Over the whole period it rose 16%, 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 Powys 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 anti-social behaviour (+92%) and vehicle crime (+19%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-38%) and burglary (-22%).

Violence and sexual offences in Powys

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Powys recorded 4,551 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 44.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Powys

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Powys recorded 1,845 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 92% on the year before. It made up 17.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Powys

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Powys recorded 924 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Powys

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Powys recorded 774 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Powys

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Powys recorded 562 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Powys

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Powys recorded 405 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Powys

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Powys recorded 332 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Powys

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Powys recorded 307 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Powys

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Powys recorded 236 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 10% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Powys

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Powys recorded 220 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Powys

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Powys recorded 112 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 7% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Powys

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Powys recorded 26 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 10% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Powys

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Powys recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Powys

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Powys recorded 21 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 38% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

84 areas within Powys, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Newtown East had the highest rate (304.0 per 1,000) and Llandrinio the lowest (15.2). 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 Powys over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Powys 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.

Powys has an estimated population of 135,059. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Powys sits in decile 6.2, 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 Powys. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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