Crime in Ely, Cardiff: statistics, rates and trends
1,847 crimes were recorded in Ely, Cardiff in the 12 months to July 2026, 116.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Ely, Cardiff at a glance
- Crime trends in Ely, Cardiff
- Types of crime in Ely, Cardiff
- Ely, Cardiff compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Ely, Cardiff
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ely, Cardiff
- Population and deprivation in Ely, Cardiff
- Questions about crime in Ely, Cardiff
- About this data
1,847 crimes were recorded in Ely, Cardiff in the 12 months to July 2026, 116.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher 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 750 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Ely, Cardiff has the 886th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Ely, Cardiff | Cardiff | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,847 | 42,057 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 116.4 | 109.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 15,874 | 383,919 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Ely, Cardiff was highest in the year to July 2021 (2,251 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,847). Over the whole period it fell 15%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 1,847 | 116.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,899 | 119.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,095 | 132.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,024 | 127.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,945 | 122.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,251 | 141.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,001 | 126.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,018 | 127.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,168 | 136.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 198 |
| June 2026 | 146 |
| May 2026 | 179 |
| April 2026 | 181 |
| March 2026 | 169 |
| February 2026 | 140 |
| January 2026 | 120 |
| December 2025 | 141 |
| November 2025 | 154 |
| October 2025 | 152 |
| September 2025 | 128 |
| August 2025 | 139 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ely, Cardiff 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 violence and sexual offences, public order, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in public order (+21%) and other theft (+19%). The largest falls were in drugs (-40%) and anti-social behaviour (-36%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 750 | 47.2 | 1.38 | +4% |
| Public order | 233 | 14.7 | 2.21 | +21% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 218 | 13.7 | 0.90 | -36% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 189 | 11.9 | 1.76 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 95 | 6.0 | 0.72 | +4% |
| Other theft | 80 | 5.0 | 0.79 | +19% |
| Vehicle crime | 72 | 4.5 | 0.92 | +16% |
| Drugs | 55 | 3.5 | 1.06 | -40% |
| Other crime | 55 | 3.5 | 1.64 | +12% |
| Burglary | 49 | 3.1 | 0.87 | -14% |
| Possession of weapons | 21 | 1.3 | 1.36 | -16% |
| Robbery | 17 | 1.1 | 0.79 | +89% |
| Bicycle theft | 8 | 0.5 | 0.61 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 0.19 | -38% |
Violence and sexual offences in Ely, Cardiff
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ely, Cardiff recorded 750 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (47.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 40.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Ely, Cardiff
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ely, Cardiff recorded 233 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 12.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Ely, Cardiff
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ely, Cardiff recorded 218 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 down 36% on the year before. It made up 11.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Ely, Cardiff
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ely, Cardiff recorded 189 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Ely, Cardiff
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ely, Cardiff recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Ely, Cardiff
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ely, Cardiff recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Ely, Cardiff
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ely, Cardiff recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Ely, Cardiff
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ely, Cardiff recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Ely, Cardiff
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ely, Cardiff recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Ely, Cardiff
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ely, Cardiff recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Ely, Cardiff
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ely, Cardiff recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Ely, Cardiff
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ely, Cardiff recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 89% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Ely, Cardiff
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ely, Cardiff recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Ely, Cardiff
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ely, Cardiff recorded 5 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 38% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Ely, Cardiff, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ely, Cardiff.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ely, Cardiff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caerau | 1,697 | 141.3 | +21% |
| Fairwater | 1,306 | 93.5 | -20% |
| Llandaff | 448 | 49.3 | -58% |
| Canton | 1,470 | 87.3 | -25% |
| Llandaff North | 845 | 97.5 | -16% |
| Riverside | 2,509 | 176.1 | +51% |
| Radyr | 227 | 30.1 | -74% |
| Whitchurch and Tongwynlais | 1,142 | 70.6 | -39% |
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 Ely, Cardiff over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cymric Close | 85 |
| On or near Courtis Road | 69 |
| On or near Cowbridge Road West | 69 |
| On or near Addison Crescent | 66 |
| On or near Ty-Cefn Road | 55 |
| On or near Plymouth Wood Road | 49 |
| On or near Highbury Place | 47 |
| On or near Mill Place | 46 |
| On or near Cadvan Road | 43 |
| On or near Ronald Place | 37 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ely, Cardiff 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 757 | 41.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 382 | 20.7% |
| Under investigation | 250 | 13.5% |
| Not recorded | 218 | 11.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 102 | 5.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 62 | 3.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 35 | 1.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 21 | 1.1% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
Ely, Cardiff has an estimated population of 15,874. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ely, Cardiff sits in decile 2.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Ely, Cardiff |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 26.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 43.8% |
| Social rented homes | 42.0% |
| Private rented homes | 13.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 82.1% |
Is Ely, Cardiff a safe place to live?
Ely, Cardiff recorded 116.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Ely, Cardiff?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 750 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (233).
Is crime in Ely, Cardiff going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ely, Cardiff was down 3% on the year before: 1,847 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,899 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Ely, Cardiff?
Ely, Cardiff is policed by South Wales. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Ely, Cardiff. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.