Crime in Carmarthen: statistics, rates and trends
2,629 crimes were recorded in Carmarthen in the 12 months to August 2026, 167.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Carmarthen at a glance
- Crime trends in Carmarthen
- Types of crime in Carmarthen
- Carmarthen compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Carmarthen
- Streets with the most crime in Carmarthen
- What happened after crimes were reported in Carmarthen
- Demographics of Carmarthen
- Questions about crime in Carmarthen
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,149), shoplifting (281) and anti-social behaviour (263) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 33rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Carmarthen | Carmarthenshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,629 | 16,483 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 167.7 | 86.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 15,680 | 190,800 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Carmarthen of any year here (2,629 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 6%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,629 | 167.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,508 | 159.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,549 | 98.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,377 | 151.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,590 | 165.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,021 | 128.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,367 | 151.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,224 | 141.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,481 | 158.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 226 |
| July 2026 | 239 |
| June 2026 | 211 |
| May 2026 | 242 |
| April 2026 | 272 |
| March 2026 | 245 |
| February 2026 | 222 |
| January 2026 | 185 |
| December 2025 | 208 |
| November 2025 | 213 |
| October 2025 | 207 |
| September 2025 | 159 |
Compared with England and Wales, Carmarthen recorded notably more drugs (2.3 times the national rate), other crime (2.1 times the national rate) and violence and sexual offences (2.1 times the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (41% below). On the year before, burglary rose from 57 to 83 and anti-social behaviour rose from 215 to 263, while possession of weapons fell from 28 to 22.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,149 | 73.3 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Shoplifting | 281 | 17.9 | 8.5 | +20% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 263 | 16.8 | 15.4 | +22% |
| Public order | 204 | 13.0 | 6.7 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 197 | 12.6 | 6.7 | -5% |
| Other theft | 156 | 9.9 | 6.4 | +19% |
| Drugs | 119 | 7.6 | 3.3 | +1% |
| Burglary | 83 | 5.3 | 3.6 | +46% |
| Other crime | 71 | 4.5 | 2.1 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 46 | 2.9 | 5.0 | +7% |
| Possession of weapons | 22 | 1.4 | 1.0 | -21% |
| Theft from the person | 19 | 1.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 10 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Carmarthen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llanelli | 6,207 | 138.7 | -17% |
| Ammanford | 866 | 109.1 | -35% |
| Pontarddulais | 341 | 50.0 | -70% |
| Loughor | 241 | 42.8 | -74% |
| Gorseinon | 778 | 57.3 | -66% |
| Gowerton | 523 | 64.2 | -62% |
| Clydach (Swansea) | 543 | 74.1 | -56% |
| Pontardawe | 488 | 84.1 | -50% |
Of the 3 areas within Carmarthen, Carmarthen Town North and South had the highest crime rate (204.8 per 1,000) and Carmarthen Town West the lowest (85.1).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmarthen Town North and South | Neighbourhood | 9,346 | 1,914 | 204.8 |
| Llangunnor | Neighbourhood | 2,614 | 393 | 150.3 |
| Carmarthen Town West | Neighbourhood | 5,696 | 485 | 85.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Carmarthen over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (209).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 209 |
| On or near Brynglas Crescent | 114 |
| On or near Hospital | 113 |
| On or near Parking Area | 105 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 90 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 84 |
| On or near Lammas Street | 61 |
| On or near A48 | 50 |
| On or near Llansteffan Road | 48 |
| On or near Spilman Street | 48 |
Of the 2,366 crimes in Carmarthen with a recorded outcome, 19% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 263 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 990 | 41.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 440 | 18.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 326 | 13.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 176 | 7.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 139 | 5.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 97 | 4.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 92 | 3.9% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 59 | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 16 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
Carmarthen has an estimated population of 15,680 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more retired residents (27%, against 22%) and an older population (23%, against 19%). On the Wales WIMD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Carmarthen average decile 5.7 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Carmarthen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 25.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 59.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 | 5.5 (Wales) |
Is Carmarthen a safe place to live?
Carmarthen recorded 167.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 33rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and other crime.
What is the most common crime in Carmarthen?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,149 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (281).
Is crime in Carmarthen going up or down?
Recorded crime in Carmarthen was up 5% on the year before: 2,629 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,508 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Carmarthen?
About 15,680 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Carmarthen?
Carmarthen is policed by Dyfed-Powys.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.