Crime in Newtown (Powys): statistics, rates and trends
1,774 crimes were recorded in Newtown (Powys) in the 12 months to July 2026, 154.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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)
- Population and deprivation in Newtown (Powys)
- Questions about crime in Newtown (Powys)
- About this data
1,774 crimes were recorded in Newtown (Powys) in the 12 months to July 2026, 154.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 861 reports (49% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Newtown (Powys) has the 54th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Newtown (Powys) | Powys | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,774 | 10,340 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 154.1 | 76.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 11,515 | 135,059 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Newtown (Powys) was highest in the year to July 2023 (2,086 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,303). Over the whole period it fell 10%, 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 | 1,774 | 154.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,017 | 175.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,303 | 113.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,086 | 181.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,995 | 173.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,693 | 147.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,619 | 140.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,746 | 151.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,976 | 171.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 164 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Newtown (Powys) 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 violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, public order.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+34%). The largest falls were in other crime (-38%) and burglary (-34%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 861 | 74.8 | 2.18 | -10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 181 | 15.7 | 2.32 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 173 | 15.0 | 0.98 | -16% |
| Public order | 138 | 12.0 | 1.80 | -33% |
| Shoplifting | 95 | 8.3 | 1.00 | +34% |
| Drugs | 89 | 7.7 | 2.36 | -18% |
| Other theft | 88 | 7.6 | 1.20 | -8% |
| Burglary | 46 | 4.0 | 1.13 | -34% |
| Other crime | 34 | 3.0 | 1.40 | -38% |
| Possession of weapons | 28 | 2.4 | 2.50 | +0% |
| Vehicle crime | 23 | 2.0 | 0.41 | -12% |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 0.9 | 1.06 | -29% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 0.32 | -17% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 0.15 | -57% |
Violence and sexual offences in Newtown (Powys)
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Newtown (Powys) recorded 861 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (74.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 48.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Newtown (Powys)
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Newtown (Powys) recorded 181 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Newtown (Powys)
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Newtown (Powys) recorded 173 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Newtown (Powys)
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Newtown (Powys) recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Newtown (Powys)
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Newtown (Powys) recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Newtown (Powys)
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Newtown (Powys) recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Newtown (Powys)
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Newtown (Powys) recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Newtown (Powys)
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Newtown (Powys) recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Newtown (Powys)
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Newtown (Powys) recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Newtown (Powys)
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Newtown (Powys) recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Newtown (Powys)
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Newtown (Powys) recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Newtown (Powys)
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Newtown (Powys) recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Newtown (Powys)
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Newtown (Powys) recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Newtown (Powys)
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Newtown (Powys) recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Newtown (Powys), for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Newtown (Powys).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Newtown (Powys) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welshpool | 777 | 113.8 | -26% |
| Bayston Hill | 157 | 30.5 | -80% |
| Oswestry | 1,523 | 83.8 | -46% |
| Ludlow | 867 | 77.9 | -49% |
| Shrewsbury | 6,530 | 83.0 | -46% |
| Leominster | 1,168 | 97.2 | -37% |
| Aberystwyth | 1,742 | 116.5 | -24% |
| Ellesmere | 307 | 60.3 | -61% |
4 areas within Newtown (Powys), ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Newtown East had the highest rate (304.0 per 1,000) and Newtown West the lowest (31.8). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtown East | Neighbourhood | 2,138 | 650 | 304.0 |
| Newtown Central and South | Neighbourhood | 5,295 | 969 | 183.0 |
| Newtown North | Neighbourhood | 2,161 | 94 | 43.5 |
| Newtown West | Neighbourhood | 1,921 | 61 | 31.8 |
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 Newtown (Powys) over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Heol-Y-Coleg | 89 |
| On or near Lon Derw | 71 |
| On or near Wesley Street | 54 |
| On or near Lon Maesycoed | 51 |
| On or near Broad Street | 47 |
| On or near Sgwar Rhedynen | 47 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 46 |
| On or near Pine Court | 43 |
| On or near Cwrt Croesawdy | 42 |
| On or near Robin Square | 41 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Newtown (Powys) 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 | 752 | 42.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 264 | 14.9% |
| Under investigation | 208 | 11.7% |
| Not recorded | 173 | 9.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 95 | 5.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 82 | 4.6% |
| Local resolution | 74 | 4.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 61 | 3.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 26 | 1.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 15 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.4% |
Newtown (Powys) has an estimated population of 11,515. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Newtown (Powys) sits in decile 4.4, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Newtown (Powys) |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 50.2% |
| Social rented homes | 31.2% |
| Private rented homes | 18.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.4 |
Is Newtown (Powys) a safe place to live?
Newtown (Powys) recorded 154.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than 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 Newtown (Powys)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 861 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (181).
Is crime in Newtown (Powys) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Newtown (Powys) was down 12% on the year before: 1,774 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,017 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Newtown (Powys)?
Newtown (Powys) is policed by Dyfed-Powys. 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 Newtown (Powys). Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.