Crime in Gabalfa: statistics, rates and trends
913 crimes were recorded in Gabalfa in the 12 months to July 2026, 91.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before.
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913 crimes were recorded in Gabalfa in the 12 months to July 2026, 91.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before. The most common offence was shoplifting, with 210 reports (23% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Gabalfa has the 1,465th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Gabalfa | Cardiff | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 913 | 42,057 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 91.1 | 109.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 10,024 | 383,919 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Gabalfa was highest in the year to July 2018 (990 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (779). Over the whole period it fell 8%, 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 | 913 | 91.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 821 | 81.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 803 | 80.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 980 | 97.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 779 | 77.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 914 | 91.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 975 | 97.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 967 | 96.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 990 | 98.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 105 |
| June 2026 | 75 |
| May 2026 | 88 |
| April 2026 | 91 |
| March 2026 | 69 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| January 2026 | 63 |
| December 2025 | 57 |
| November 2025 | 83 |
| October 2025 | 96 |
| September 2025 | 75 |
| August 2025 | 61 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Gabalfa 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 shoplifting, vehicle crime, bicycle theft.
The largest increases were in public order (+48%) and criminal damage and arson (+46%). The largest falls were in drugs (-66%) and burglary (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 210 | 20.9 | 2.53 | +5% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 200 | 20.0 | 0.58 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 102 | 10.2 | 2.07 | +24% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 82 | 8.2 | 1.21 | +46% |
| Public order | 77 | 7.7 | 1.16 | +48% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 65 | 6.5 | 0.42 | +38% |
| Bicycle theft | 47 | 4.7 | 5.70 | -2% |
| Other theft | 42 | 4.2 | 0.66 | +11% |
| Burglary | 21 | 2.1 | 0.59 | -30% |
| Robbery | 19 | 1.9 | 1.40 | +36% |
| Other crime | 16 | 1.6 | 0.76 | +23% |
| Possession of weapons | 15 | 1.5 | 1.54 | +150% |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.2 | 0.37 | -66% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.5 | 0.30 | -17% |
Shoplifting in Gabalfa
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Gabalfa recorded 210 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 23.0% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in Gabalfa
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Gabalfa recorded 200 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 21.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Gabalfa
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Gabalfa recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 11.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Gabalfa
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Gabalfa recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 46% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Gabalfa
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Gabalfa recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Gabalfa
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Gabalfa recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Gabalfa
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Gabalfa recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Gabalfa
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Gabalfa recorded 42 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 up 11% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Gabalfa
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Gabalfa recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Gabalfa
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Gabalfa recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Gabalfa
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Gabalfa recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Gabalfa
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Gabalfa recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Gabalfa
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Gabalfa recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 66% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Gabalfa
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Gabalfa recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Gabalfa, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Gabalfa.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Gabalfa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathays | 7,055 | 294.9 | +224% |
| Heath | 923 | 70.8 | -22% |
| Llandaff North | 845 | 97.5 | +7% |
| Plasnewydd | 2,319 | 115.6 | +27% |
| Riverside | 2,509 | 176.1 | +93% |
| Penylan | 1,132 | 84.5 | -7% |
| Canton | 1,470 | 87.3 | -4% |
| Llandaff | 448 | 49.3 | -46% |
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 Gabalfa over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Batchelor Road | 126 |
| On or near Whitchurch Road | 103 |
| On or near Parkfield Place | 75 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 62 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 59 |
| On or near Pen-Y-Bryn Place | 53 |
| On or near Supermarket | 37 |
| On or near Flint Street | 26 |
| On or near Banastre Avenue | 25 |
| On or near Ventnor Place | 24 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Gabalfa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 429 | 47.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 182 | 19.9% |
| Under investigation | 115 | 12.6% |
| Not recorded | 65 | 7.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 56 | 6.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 29 | 3.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 1.9% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 1.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.1% |
Gabalfa has an estimated population of 10,024. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Gabalfa sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Gabalfa |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 82.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 5.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 47.6% |
| Social rented homes | 10.6% |
| Private rented homes | 41.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is Gabalfa a safe place to live?
Gabalfa recorded 91.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Gabalfa?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 210 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (200).
Is crime in Gabalfa going up or down?
Recorded crime in Gabalfa was up 11% on the year before: 913 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 821 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Gabalfa?
Gabalfa 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 Gabalfa. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.