Crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area: statistics, rates and trends
44,793 crimes were recorded in the Dyfed-Powys Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
- Types of crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
- The Dyfed-Powys Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Dyfed-Powys Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
- Questions about crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
- About this data
44,793 crimes were recorded in the Dyfed-Powys Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 19,862 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Dyfed-Powys Police area has the 25th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Dyfed-Powys Police area | Wales | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 44,793 | 304,944 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 85.4 | 95.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +0% | -1% |
| Population | 524,219 | 3,186,581 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area was highest in the year to July 2022 (46,737 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (28,662). Over the whole period it rose 11%, 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 | 44,793 | 85.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 42,548 | 81.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 28,662 | 54.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 44,792 | 85.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 46,737 | 89.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 44,287 | 84.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 43,584 | 83.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 41,258 | 78.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 40,412 | 77.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 4,181 |
| June 2026 | 3,809 |
| May 2026 | 5,392 |
| April 2026 | 4,968 |
| March 2026 | 3,838 |
| February 2026 | 3,154 |
| January 2026 | 3,135 |
| December 2025 | 2,964 |
| November 2025 | 3,230 |
| October 2025 | 3,359 |
| September 2025 | 3,072 |
| August 2025 | 3,691 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Dyfed-Powys Police area 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. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+81%) and possession of weapons (+16%). The largest falls were in drugs (-17%) and robbery (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 19,862 | 37.9 | 1.11 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 7,298 | 13.9 | 0.91 | +81% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4,127 | 7.9 | 1.16 | -1% |
| Public order | 3,393 | 6.5 | 0.97 | -11% |
| Other theft | 2,386 | 4.6 | 0.71 | -2% |
| Shoplifting | 2,009 | 3.8 | 0.46 | +12% |
| Drugs | 1,550 | 3.0 | 0.90 | -17% |
| Burglary | 1,373 | 2.6 | 0.74 | -14% |
| Other crime | 1,130 | 2.2 | 1.02 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 814 | 1.6 | 0.32 | +14% |
| Possession of weapons | 484 | 0.9 | 0.95 | +16% |
| Theft from the person | 155 | 0.3 | 0.18 | -5% |
| Bicycle theft | 117 | 0.2 | 0.27 | -13% |
| Robbery | 95 | 0.2 | 0.13 | -17% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 19,862 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 44.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 7,298 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 81% on the year before. It made up 16.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 4,127 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 3,393 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 2,386 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 2,009 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 1,550 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 1,373 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 1,130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 814 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 484 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 155 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 5% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 117 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Dyfed-Powys Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Dyfed-Powys Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Dyfed-Powys Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Dyfed-Powys Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Wales | 124,335 | 91.2 | +7% |
| Gwent | 70,783 | 117.6 | +38% |
| Avon and Somerset | 188,371 | 103.9 | +22% |
| West Mercia | 96,563 | 72.0 | -16% |
| Gloucestershire | 55,492 | 82.9 | -3% |
| North Wales | 65,033 | 93.3 | +9% |
| West Midlands | 322,332 | 106.1 | +24% |
| Devon & Cornwall | 140,218 | 76.2 | -11% |
4 areas within the Dyfed-Powys Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ceredigion had the highest rate (92.4 per 1,000) and Powys the lowest (76.6). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceredigion | District | 72,599 | 6,707 | 92.4 |
| Pembrokeshire | District | 125,761 | 11,292 | 89.8 |
| Carmarthenshire | District | 190,800 | 16,454 | 86.2 |
| Powys | District | 135,059 | 10,340 | 76.6 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Dyfed-Powys Police area 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 | 16,818 | 37.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 7,670 | 17.1% |
| Not recorded | 7,298 | 16.3% |
| Under investigation | 5,152 | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 2,117 | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1,682 | 3.8% |
| Local resolution | 1,483 | 3.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 825 | 1.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 814 | 1.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 290 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 273 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 234 | 0.5% |
The Dyfed-Powys Police area has an estimated population of 524,219. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Dyfed-Powys Police area sits in decile 5.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Dyfed-Powys Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.9% |
| Social rented homes | 14.2% |
| Private rented homes | 16.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 2.9% |
Is the Dyfed-Powys Police area a safe place to live?
The Dyfed-Powys Police area recorded 85.4 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 the Dyfed-Powys Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 19,862 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (7,298).
Is crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Dyfed-Powys Police area was up 5% on the year before: 44,793 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 42,548 in the previous 12 months.
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 the Dyfed-Powys Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.