Crime in Rhondda Cynon Taf: statistics, rates and trends

20,613 crimes were recorded in Rhondda Cynon Taf in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 9,234 reports (45% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Rhondda Cynon Taf has the 161st highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Rhondda Cynon Taf was highest in the year to July 2021 (24,772 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (20,613). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf 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 (+112%) and theft from the person (+35%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-40%) and anti-social behaviour (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 9,234 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (38.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 44.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 2,540 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 12.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 2,485 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 12.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 1,576 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 1,133 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 3% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 927 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 712 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 588 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 9% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 529 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 485 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 188 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 14% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 112% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 35% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

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

74 areas within Rhondda Cynon Taf, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Pontypridd Town had the highest rate (222.1 per 1,000) and Efail Isaf the lowest (19.1). 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rhondda Cynon Taf 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.

Rhondda Cynon Taf has an estimated population of 242,844. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rhondda Cynon Taf sits in decile 4.8, 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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