Crime in Fairwater, Cardiff: statistics, rates and trends

1,316 crimes were recorded in Fairwater, Cardiff in the 12 months to August 2026, 94.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.

Crime map

Circle size: number of crimesSeptember 2025 to August 2026. Source: data.police.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0

Violence and sexual offences (468), anti-social behaviour (193) and public order (163) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,387th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.

MeasureFairwater, CardiffCardiffEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to August 20261,31642,8115,618,064
Crimes per 1,000 residents94.2111.596.7
Change on previous 12 months0%0%-1%
Population13,965383,91958,127,638

The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Fairwater, Cardiff of any year here (1,316 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 23%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to August 20261,31694.296.7
Year to August 20251,32294.797.2
Year to August 20241,586113.697.9
Year to August 20231,474105.5n/a
Year to August 20221,398100.1102.0
Year to August 20211,836131.5101.4
Year to August 20201,642117.6102.7
Year to August 20191,454104.1101.7
Year to August 20181,702121.9100.8

Month by month

MonthCrimes
August 2026122
July 2026133
June 2026125
May 2026102
April 202698
March 2026127
February 202691
January 202693
December 202593
November 2025131
October 2025105
September 202596

Compared with England and Wales, Fairwater, Cardiff recorded notably more drugs (84% above the national rate) and public order (75% above the national rate), and notably less other theft (50% below) and burglary (46% below). On the year before, burglary fell from 32 to 27.

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000Change on year
Violence and sexual offences46833.534.2-1%
Anti-social behaviour19313.815.4+3%
Public order16311.76.7+9%
Criminal damage and arson966.96.7-1%
Shoplifting956.88.5-14%
Drugs846.03.3-3%
Vehicle crime654.75.00%
Other theft453.26.4-2%
Other crime352.52.1-3%
Burglary271.93.6-16%
Robbery191.41.4n/a
Possession of weapons110.81.0n/a
Bicycle theft100.70.8n/a
Theft from the person50.41.7n/a

What each category covers: crime categories.

4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Fairwater, Cardiff; the highest is Riverside, Cardiff (175.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Radyr (28.0).

NeighbourhoodCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Fairwater, Cardiff
Llandaff46851.5-45%
Ely1,886118.8+26%
Llandaff North85899.0+5%
Caerau1,700141.6+50%
Canton1,49989.0-6%
Radyr21128.0-70%
Whitchurch and Tongwynlais1,17072.3-23%
Riverside2,505175.8+87%

The 10 locations below account for 39% of the crime recorded in Fairwater, Cardiff over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (136).

LocationCrimes
On or near Supermarket136
On or near Norbury Road72
On or near Lavender Grove61
On or near Honeysuckle Grove47
On or near Poplar Close44
On or near Kerrigan Close35
On or near Beechley Drive31
On or near Summerwood Close31
On or near Clos Ty Bronna30
On or near Limeslade Close30

Of the 1,123 crimes in Fairwater, Cardiff with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 193 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.

OutcomeCrimesShareEngland and Wales
Unable to prosecute suspect42738.0%34.5%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified27324.3%35.3%
Under investigation19016.9%11.5%
Awaiting court outcome887.8%5.2%
Status update unavailable706.2%4.7%
Court result unavailable443.9%2.5%
Further investigation is not in the public interest201.8%0.5%
Local resolution70.6%3.1%
Action to be taken by another organisation10.1%1.3%
Formal action is not in the public interest10.1%0.3%
Offender given a caution10.1%0.6%
Offender given a drugs possession warning10.1%0.0%

Fairwater, Cardiff has an estimated population of 13,965 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (25%, against 17%), less private renting (14%, against 20%) and more residents with no qualifications (23%, against 18%). On the Wales WIMD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Fairwater, Cardiff average decile 4.5 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.

MeasureFairwater, CardiffEngland and Wales
Aged 0 to 1519.6%18.3%
Aged 65 and over17.0%18.9%
Residents 16+ in work55.8%57.2%
Residents 16+ unemployed3.3%3.4%
Residents 16+ retired19.7%21.6%
Residents 16+ who are students7.2%7.9%
Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar)29.0%33.8%
Residents 16+ with no qualifications22.6%18.2%
Households with no car or van27.9%23.3%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage61.1%62.5%
Social rented homes24.9%17.1%
Private rented homes13.8%20.3%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)4.55.5 (Wales)
Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas26.2%9.5% (Wales)

Is Fairwater, Cardiff a safe place to live?

Fairwater, Cardiff recorded 94.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,387th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and public order.

What is the most common crime in Fairwater, Cardiff?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 468 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (193).

Is crime in Fairwater, Cardiff going up or down?

Recorded crime in Fairwater, Cardiff was almost unchanged on the year before: 1,316 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,322 in the previous 12 months.

What is the population of Fairwater, Cardiff?

About 13,965 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).

Which police force covers Fairwater, Cardiff?

Fairwater, Cardiff is policed by South Wales.

Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.

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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/fairwater">https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/fairwater</a>