Crime in Riverside, Cardiff: statistics, rates and trends
2,509 crimes were recorded in Riverside, Cardiff in the 12 months to July 2026, 176.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Riverside, Cardiff at a glance
- Crime trends in Riverside, Cardiff
- Types of crime in Riverside, Cardiff
- Riverside, Cardiff compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Riverside, Cardiff
- What happened after crimes were reported in Riverside, Cardiff
- Population and deprivation in Riverside, Cardiff
- Questions about crime in Riverside, Cardiff
- About this data
2,509 crimes were recorded in Riverside, Cardiff in the 12 months to July 2026, 176.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 10% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 648 reports (26% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Riverside, Cardiff has the 275th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Riverside, Cardiff | Cardiff | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,509 | 42,057 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 176.1 | 109.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +10% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 14,246 | 383,919 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Riverside, Cardiff was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,731 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (2,283). Over the whole period it rose 0%, 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 | 2,509 | 176.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,283 | 160.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,503 | 175.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,684 | 188.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,425 | 170.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,723 | 191.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,731 | 191.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,695 | 189.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,508 | 176.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 260 |
| June 2026 | 247 |
| May 2026 | 270 |
| April 2026 | 183 |
| March 2026 | 161 |
| February 2026 | 186 |
| January 2026 | 181 |
| December 2025 | 160 |
| November 2025 | 243 |
| October 2025 | 217 |
| September 2025 | 183 |
| August 2025 | 218 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Riverside, 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, vehicle crime, shoplifting.
The largest increases were in robbery (+141%) and other crime (+30%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-37%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 648 | 45.5 | 1.33 | +5% |
| Vehicle crime | 343 | 24.1 | 4.89 | +25% |
| Shoplifting | 291 | 20.4 | 2.47 | -3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 272 | 19.1 | 1.24 | +12% |
| Public order | 254 | 17.8 | 2.68 | +22% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 192 | 13.5 | 1.99 | +15% |
| Other theft | 149 | 10.5 | 1.64 | +5% |
| Burglary | 104 | 7.3 | 2.06 | -7% |
| Bicycle theft | 71 | 5.0 | 6.05 | +13% |
| Robbery | 53 | 3.7 | 2.75 | +141% |
| Drugs | 51 | 3.6 | 1.09 | +2% |
| Other crime | 43 | 3.0 | 1.43 | +30% |
| Possession of weapons | 19 | 1.3 | 1.37 | +12% |
| Theft from the person | 19 | 1.3 | 0.79 | -37% |
Violence and sexual offences in Riverside, Cardiff
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 648 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (45.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 25.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Riverside, Cardiff
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 343 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 13.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Riverside, Cardiff
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 291 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 11.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Riverside, Cardiff
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 272 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Riverside, Cardiff
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 254 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 10.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Riverside, Cardiff
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 192 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Riverside, Cardiff
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 149 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Riverside, Cardiff
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Riverside, Cardiff
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Riverside, Cardiff
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 141% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Riverside, Cardiff
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Riverside, Cardiff
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Riverside, Cardiff
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 19 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 up 12% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Riverside, Cardiff
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Riverside, Cardiff recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Riverside, Cardiff, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Riverside, Cardiff.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Riverside, Cardiff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | 1,470 | 87.3 | -50% |
| Cathays | 7,055 | 294.9 | +67% |
| Grangetown | 2,342 | 105.2 | -40% |
| Gabalfa | 913 | 91.1 | -48% |
| Plasnewydd | 2,319 | 115.6 | -34% |
| Butetown | 2,990 | 220.7 | +25% |
| Adamsdown | 2,899 | 219.2 | +24% |
| Llandaff North | 845 | 97.5 | -45% |
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 Riverside, Cardiff over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 294 |
| On or near Ann Street | 138 |
| On or near Parking Area | 117 |
| On or near Mandeville Street | 105 |
| On or near Picton Place | 105 |
| On or near Hospital | 99 |
| On or near Kings Road | 92 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 70 |
| On or near Iestyn Street | 68 |
| On or near Tudor Lane | 63 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Riverside, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,007 | 40.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 584 | 23.3% |
| Under investigation | 331 | 13.2% |
| Not recorded | 272 | 10.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 134 | 5.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 70 | 2.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 70 | 2.8% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 19 | 0.8% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.2% |
Riverside, Cardiff has an estimated population of 14,246. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Riverside, Cardiff sits in decile 4.5, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Riverside, Cardiff |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 73.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 45.2% |
| Social rented homes | 15.0% |
| Private rented homes | 39.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 27.6% |
Is Riverside, Cardiff a safe place to live?
Riverside, Cardiff recorded 176.1 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 Riverside, Cardiff?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 648 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by vehicle crime (343).
Is crime in Riverside, Cardiff going up or down?
Recorded crime in Riverside, Cardiff was up 10% on the year before: 2,509 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,283 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Riverside, Cardiff?
Riverside, 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 Riverside, Cardiff. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.