Crime in the South Wales Police area: statistics, rates and trends
124,335 crimes were recorded in the South Wales Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 91.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the South Wales Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the South Wales Police area
- Types of crime in the South Wales Police area
- The South Wales Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the South Wales Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the South Wales Police area
- Population and deprivation in the South Wales Police area
- Questions about crime in the South Wales Police area
- About this data
124,335 crimes were recorded in the South Wales Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 91.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 47,667 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the South Wales Police area has the 19th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the South Wales Police area | Wales | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 124,335 | 304,944 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 91.2 | 95.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | +0% | -1% |
| Population | 1,363,561 | 3,186,581 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the South Wales Police area was highest in the year to July 2021 (146,285 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (124,335). Over the whole period it fell 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 | 124,335 | 91.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 127,327 | 93.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 136,226 | 99.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 129,841 | 95.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 126,147 | 92.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 146,285 | 107.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 144,481 | 106.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 140,384 | 103.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 139,058 | 102.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 12,941 |
| June 2026 | 11,349 |
| May 2026 | 11,146 |
| April 2026 | 10,280 |
| March 2026 | 10,098 |
| February 2026 | 8,851 |
| January 2026 | 9,293 |
| December 2025 | 9,152 |
| November 2025 | 10,091 |
| October 2025 | 10,859 |
| September 2025 | 9,436 |
| August 2025 | 10,839 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the South Wales 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. Rates were well above the national level for public order.
The largest increases were in robbery (+73%) and possession of weapons (+16%). The largest falls were in drugs (-16%) and anti-social behaviour (-16%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 47,667 | 35.0 | 1.02 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 15,079 | 11.1 | 0.72 | -16% |
| Public order | 14,321 | 10.5 | 1.58 | +5% |
| Shoplifting | 11,661 | 8.6 | 1.03 | -4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 9,379 | 6.9 | 1.01 | -3% |
| Other theft | 6,334 | 4.6 | 0.73 | -6% |
| Vehicle crime | 6,076 | 4.5 | 0.90 | -0% |
| Drugs | 3,587 | 2.6 | 0.80 | -16% |
| Other crime | 3,112 | 2.3 | 1.08 | -6% |
| Burglary | 3,057 | 2.2 | 0.63 | -14% |
| Possession of weapons | 1,211 | 0.9 | 0.91 | +16% |
| Robbery | 1,068 | 0.8 | 0.58 | +73% |
| Bicycle theft | 1,067 | 0.8 | 0.95 | -12% |
| Theft from the person | 716 | 0.5 | 0.31 | -7% |
Violence and sexual offences in the South Wales Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The South Wales Police area recorded 47,667 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (35.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 38.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the South Wales Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The South Wales Police area recorded 15,079 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 12.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the South Wales Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The South Wales Police area recorded 14,321 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 11.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the South Wales Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The South Wales Police area recorded 11,661 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 9.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the South Wales Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The South Wales Police area recorded 9,379 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the South Wales Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The South Wales Police area recorded 6,334 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 6% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the South Wales Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The South Wales Police area recorded 6,076 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the South Wales Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The South Wales Police area recorded 3,587 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the South Wales Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The South Wales Police area recorded 3,112 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the South Wales Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The South Wales Police area recorded 3,057 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the South Wales Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The South Wales Police area recorded 1,211 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 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the South Wales Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The South Wales Police area recorded 1,068 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 73% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the South Wales Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The South Wales Police area recorded 1,067 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the South Wales Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The South Wales Police area recorded 716 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 7% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the South Wales Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the South Wales Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the South Wales Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwent | 70,783 | 117.6 | +29% |
| Avon and Somerset | 188,371 | 103.9 | +14% |
| Dyfed-Powys | 44,793 | 85.4 | -6% |
| Gloucestershire | 55,492 | 82.9 | -9% |
| Wiltshire | 51,651 | 67.3 | -26% |
| West Mercia | 96,563 | 72.0 | -21% |
| Devon & Cornwall | 140,218 | 76.2 | -16% |
| Dorset | 56,174 | 70.3 | -23% |
7 areas within the South Wales Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Cardiff had the highest rate (109.5 per 1,000) and Vale of Glamorgan the lowest (72.1). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | District | 383,919 | 42,057 | 109.5 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | District | 58,972 | 6,367 | 108.0 |
| Swansea | District | 251,304 | 21,537 | 85.7 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | District | 242,844 | 20,613 | 84.9 |
| Bridgend | District | 147,530 | 12,344 | 83.7 |
| Neath Port Talbot | District | 143,249 | 11,633 | 81.2 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | District | 135,743 | 9,784 | 72.1 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the South Wales 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 | 39,236 | 31.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 31,437 | 25.3% |
| Under investigation | 17,183 | 13.8% |
| Not recorded | 15,079 | 12.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7,815 | 6.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 5,087 | 4.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 3,964 | 3.2% |
| Local resolution | 2,103 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1,426 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 437 | 0.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 319 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 188 | 0.2% |
The South Wales Police area has an estimated population of 1,363,561. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the South Wales Police area sits in decile 5.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the South Wales Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.9% |
| Social rented homes | 16.5% |
| Private rented homes | 18.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 13.2% |
Is the South Wales Police area a safe place to live?
The South Wales Police area recorded 91.2 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 South Wales Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 47,667 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (15,079).
Is crime in the South Wales Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the South Wales Police area was down 2% on the year before: 124,335 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 127,327 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 South Wales Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.