Crime in Waterfront: statistics, rates and trends
1,280 crimes were recorded in Waterfront in the 12 months to July 2026, 243.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Waterfront at a glance
- Crime trends in Waterfront
- Types of crime in Waterfront
- Waterfront compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Waterfront
- What happened after crimes were reported in Waterfront
- Population and deprivation in Waterfront
- Questions about crime in Waterfront
- About this data
1,280 crimes were recorded in Waterfront in the 12 months to July 2026, 243.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 410 reports (32% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Waterfront has the 131st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Waterfront | Swansea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,280 | 21,537 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 243.2 | 85.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 5,263 | 251,304 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Waterfront was highest in the year to July 2026 (1,280 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (852). Over the whole period it rose 13%, 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 | 1,280 | 243.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,151 | 218.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,275 | 242.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 970 | 184.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,023 | 194.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 852 | 161.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,008 | 191.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,167 | 221.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,133 | 215.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 134 |
| June 2026 | 107 |
| May 2026 | 153 |
| April 2026 | 123 |
| March 2026 | 125 |
| February 2026 | 91 |
| January 2026 | 83 |
| December 2025 | 63 |
| November 2025 | 95 |
| October 2025 | 100 |
| September 2025 | 101 |
| August 2025 | 105 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Waterfront 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, shoplifting, anti-social behaviour.
The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+30%) and drugs (+29%). The largest falls were in burglary (-44%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 410 | 77.9 | 2.28 | +30% |
| Shoplifting | 280 | 53.2 | 6.42 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 177 | 33.6 | 2.19 | +11% |
| Public order | 101 | 19.2 | 2.89 | +16% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 64 | 12.2 | 1.79 | +8% |
| Other theft | 64 | 12.2 | 1.90 | +0% |
| Vehicle crime | 60 | 11.4 | 2.31 | -2% |
| Drugs | 40 | 7.6 | 2.32 | +29% |
| Other crime | 22 | 4.2 | 1.98 | +16% |
| Bicycle theft | 20 | 3.8 | 4.62 | +5% |
| Burglary | 14 | 2.7 | 0.75 | -44% |
| Robbery | 12 | 2.3 | 1.69 | +140% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 1.7 | 1.76 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 1.3 | 0.79 | +133% |
Violence and sexual offences in Waterfront
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Waterfront recorded 410 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (77.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 32.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Waterfront
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Waterfront recorded 280 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (53.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 21.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Waterfront
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Waterfront recorded 177 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 13.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Waterfront
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Waterfront recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Waterfront
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Waterfront recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Waterfront
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Waterfront recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Waterfront
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Waterfront recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Waterfront
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Waterfront recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Waterfront
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Waterfront recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Waterfront
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Waterfront recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Waterfront
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Waterfront recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Waterfront
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Waterfront recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 140% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Waterfront
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Waterfront recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Waterfront
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Waterfront recorded 7 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 up 133% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Waterfront, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Waterfront.
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 Waterfront over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 355 |
| On or near Nightclub | 125 |
| On or near West Way | 121 |
| On or near Supermarket | 83 |
| On or near Prison | 71 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 52 |
| On or near Paxton Street | 49 |
| On or near Lamberts Road | 31 |
| On or near Oystermouth Road | 30 |
| On or near Paxton Drive | 29 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Waterfront 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 | 345 | 27.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 287 | 22.4% |
| Not recorded | 177 | 13.8% |
| Under investigation | 171 | 13.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 131 | 10.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 77 | 6.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 31 | 2.4% |
| Local resolution | 29 | 2.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 10 | 0.8% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
Waterfront has an estimated population of 5,263. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Waterfront sits in decile 6.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Waterfront |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 8.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 74.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 36.3% |
| Social rented homes | 22.4% |
| Private rented homes | 41.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 |
Is Waterfront a safe place to live?
Waterfront recorded 243.2 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 Waterfront?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 410 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (280).
Is crime in Waterfront going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waterfront was up 11% on the year before: 1,280 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,151 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Waterfront?
Waterfront 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 Waterfront. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.