Crime in Mountain Ash: statistics, rates and trends
1,051 crimes were recorded in Mountain Ash in the 12 months to July 2026, 87.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Mountain Ash at a glance
- Crime trends in Mountain Ash
- Types of crime in Mountain Ash
- Mountain Ash compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Mountain Ash
- Streets with the most crime in Mountain Ash
- What happened after crimes were reported in Mountain Ash
- Population and deprivation in Mountain Ash
- Questions about crime in Mountain Ash
- About this data
1,051 crimes were recorded in Mountain Ash in the 12 months to July 2026, 87.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 512 reports (49% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Mountain Ash has the 507th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Mountain Ash | Rhondda Cynon Taf | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,051 | 20,613 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 87.8 | 84.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 11,973 | 242,844 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Mountain Ash was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,424 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,045). Over the whole period it fell 1%, 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 | 1,051 | 87.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,045 | 87.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,081 | 90.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,049 | 87.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,077 | 90.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,424 | 118.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,317 | 110.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,149 | 96.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,060 | 88.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 111 |
| June 2026 | 96 |
| May 2026 | 97 |
| April 2026 | 67 |
| March 2026 | 72 |
| February 2026 | 66 |
| January 2026 | 101 |
| December 2025 | 76 |
| November 2025 | 86 |
| October 2025 | 94 |
| September 2025 | 80 |
| August 2025 | 105 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Mountain Ash 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 criminal damage and arson (+49%) and public order (+25%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-58%) and vehicle crime (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 512 | 42.8 | 1.25 | -1% |
| Public order | 137 | 11.4 | 1.72 | +25% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 115 | 9.6 | 0.63 | -15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 94 | 7.9 | 1.16 | +49% |
| Other theft | 46 | 3.8 | 0.60 | +12% |
| Drugs | 35 | 2.9 | 0.89 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 35 | 2.9 | 0.59 | -31% |
| Other crime | 27 | 2.3 | 1.07 | +0% |
| Burglary | 18 | 1.5 | 0.43 | -5% |
| Shoplifting | 15 | 1.3 | 0.15 | -58% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.7 | 0.69 | -11% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 0.20 | +33% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 0.19 | +50% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.20 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Mountain Ash
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Mountain Ash recorded 512 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (42.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 48.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Mountain Ash
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Mountain Ash recorded 137 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 13.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Mountain Ash
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Mountain Ash recorded 115 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 10.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Mountain Ash
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Mountain Ash recorded 94 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 up 49% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Mountain Ash
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Mountain Ash recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Mountain Ash
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Mountain Ash recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Mountain Ash
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Mountain Ash recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Mountain Ash
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Mountain Ash recorded 27 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Mountain Ash
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Mountain Ash recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Mountain Ash
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Mountain Ash recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 58% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Mountain Ash
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Mountain Ash recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Mountain Ash
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Mountain Ash recorded 4 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 up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Mountain Ash
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Mountain Ash recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Mountain Ash
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Mountain Ash recorded 2 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 up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Mountain Ash, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Mountain Ash.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Mountain Ash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treharris | 342 | 55.1 | -37% |
| Aberdare | 3,655 | 95.4 | +9% |
| Porth | 1,262 | 97.9 | +11% |
| Rhondda | 1,230 | 91.8 | +5% |
| Tonypandy | 1,365 | 79.2 | -10% |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 4,357 | 113.4 | +29% |
| Pontypridd | 3,565 | 104.9 | +19% |
| Treorchy | 649 | 85.2 | -3% |
2 areas within Mountain Ash, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Mountain Ash had the highest rate (96.4 per 1,000) and Penrhiw-ceibr the lowest (90.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Ash | Neighbourhood | 7,531 | 726 | 96.4 |
| Penrhiw-ceibr | Neighbourhood | 5,874 | 532 | 90.6 |
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 Mountain Ash over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Fernhill | 122 |
| On or near Hospital | 67 |
| On or near Forest View | 45 |
| On or near Glyngwyn Street | 33 |
| On or near B4275 | 26 |
| On or near Cross Street | 24 |
| On or near Harcourt Terrace | 24 |
| On or near Parking Area | 22 |
| On or near Cwm Alarch | 21 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 21 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Mountain Ash 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 | 442 | 42.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 170 | 16.2% |
| Under investigation | 164 | 15.6% |
| Not recorded | 115 | 10.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 47 | 4.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 44 | 4.2% |
| Local resolution | 30 | 2.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 24 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Mountain Ash has an estimated population of 11,973. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Mountain Ash sits in decile 3.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Mountain Ash |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.8% |
| Social rented homes | 13.6% |
| Private rented homes | 20.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.1 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 11.1% |
Is Mountain Ash a safe place to live?
Mountain Ash recorded 87.8 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 Mountain Ash?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 512 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (137).
Is crime in Mountain Ash going up or down?
Recorded crime in Mountain Ash was almost unchanged on the year before: 1,051 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,045 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Mountain Ash?
Mountain Ash 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 Mountain Ash. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.