Crime in Newtown (Powys): statistics, rates and trends
1,764 crimes were recorded in Newtown (Powys) in the 12 months to August 2026, 153.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Newtown (Powys) at a glance
- Crime trends in Newtown (Powys)
- Types of crime in Newtown (Powys)
- Newtown (Powys) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Newtown (Powys)
- Streets with the most crime in Newtown (Powys)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Newtown (Powys)
- Demographics of Newtown (Powys)
- Questions about crime in Newtown (Powys)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (854), criminal damage and arson (186) and anti-social behaviour (169) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 58th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Newtown (Powys) | Powys | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,764 | 10,323 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 153.2 | 76.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 11,515 | 135,059 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Newtown (Powys) peaked in the year to August 2022 (2,065 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (1,305). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,764 | 153.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,999 | 173.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,305 | 113.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,047 | 177.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,065 | 179.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,675 | 145.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,602 | 139.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,765 | 153.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,973 | 171.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 154 |
| July 2026 | 180 |
| June 2026 | 151 |
| May 2026 | 178 |
| April 2026 | 121 |
| March 2026 | 154 |
| February 2026 | 127 |
| January 2026 | 129 |
| December 2025 | 136 |
| November 2025 | 134 |
| October 2025 | 152 |
| September 2025 | 148 |
Compared with England and Wales, Newtown (Powys) recorded notably more possession of weapons (2.4 times the national rate), drugs (2.4 times the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (2.4 times the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (65% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 58 to 101, while other crime fell from 52 to 34 and burglary fell from 66 to 44.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 854 | 74.2 | 34.2 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 186 | 16.2 | 6.7 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 169 | 14.7 | 15.4 | -19% |
| Public order | 134 | 11.6 | 6.7 | -30% |
| Shoplifting | 101 | 8.8 | 8.5 | +74% |
| Drugs | 91 | 7.9 | 3.3 | -14% |
| Other theft | 87 | 7.6 | 6.4 | -5% |
| Burglary | 44 | 3.8 | 3.6 | -33% |
| Other crime | 34 | 3.0 | 2.1 | -35% |
| Possession of weapons | 27 | 2.3 | 1.0 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 1.7 | 5.0 | -20% |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 0.9 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Newtown (Powys) has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest towns.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Newtown (Powys) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welshpool | 791 | 115.8 | -24% |
| Bayston Hill | 157 | 30.5 | -80% |
| Oswestry | 1,495 | 82.3 | -46% |
| Ludlow | 880 | 79.1 | -48% |
| Shrewsbury | 6,458 | 82.1 | -46% |
| Leominster | 1,150 | 95.7 | -38% |
| Aberystwyth | 1,762 | 117.9 | -23% |
| Ellesmere | 295 | 57.9 | -62% |
Of the 4 areas within Newtown (Powys), Newtown East had the highest crime rate (312.9 per 1,000) and Newtown West the lowest (29.7), 11 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtown East | Neighbourhood | 2,138 | 669 | 312.9 |
| Newtown Central and South | Neighbourhood | 5,295 | 949 | 179.2 |
| Newtown North | Neighbourhood | 2,161 | 89 | 41.2 |
| Newtown West | Neighbourhood | 1,921 | 57 | 29.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 29% of the crime recorded in Newtown (Powys) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Heol-Y-Coleg” (85).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Heol-Y-Coleg | 85 |
| On or near Lon Derw | 75 |
| On or near Broad Street | 54 |
| On or near Wesley Street | 53 |
| On or near Lon Maesycoed | 50 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 44 |
| On or near Cwrt Croesawdy | 42 |
| On or near Sgwar Rhedynen | 41 |
| On or near Parklands | 38 |
| On or near Robin Square | 38 |
Of the 1,595 crimes in Newtown (Powys) with a recorded outcome, 17% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 169 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 751 | 47.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 268 | 16.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 205 | 12.9% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 95 | 6.0% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 81 | 5.1% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 73 | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 59 | 3.7% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 26 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 18 | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Newtown (Powys) has an estimated population of 11,515 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (31%, against 17%), fewer students (5.7%, against 7.9%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (25%, against 34%). On the Wales WIMD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Newtown (Powys) average decile 4.4 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Newtown (Powys) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 25.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 50.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 31.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.4 | 5.5 (Wales) |
Is Newtown (Powys) a safe place to live?
Newtown (Powys) recorded 153.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 58th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were possession of weapons and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Newtown (Powys)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 854 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (186).
Is crime in Newtown (Powys) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Newtown (Powys) was down 12% on the year before: 1,764 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,999 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Newtown (Powys)?
About 11,515 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Newtown (Powys)?
Newtown (Powys) 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.