Crime in Penarth: statistics, rates and trends

1,662 crimes were recorded in Penarth in the 12 months to July 2026, 59.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 592 reports (36% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Penarth has the 976th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Penarth was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,182 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,643). Over the whole period it fell 16%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Penarth 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. The largest increases were in shoplifting (+165%) and vehicle crime (+21%). The largest falls were in drugs (-27%) and other crime (-23%).

Violence and sexual offences in Penarth

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Penarth recorded 592 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 35.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Penarth

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Penarth recorded 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 11.2% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Penarth

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Penarth recorded 185 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 11.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Penarth

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Penarth recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 165% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Penarth

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Penarth recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Penarth

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Penarth recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Penarth

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Penarth recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Penarth

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Penarth recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Penarth

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Penarth recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Penarth

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Penarth recorded 23 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 up 35% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Penarth

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Penarth recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Penarth

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Penarth recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Penarth

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Penarth recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 180% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Penarth

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Penarth recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Penarth, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Penarth.

5 areas within Penarth, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Llandough had the highest rate (129.7 per 1,000) and Plymouth the lowest (25.8). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Penarth over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Penarth 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.

Penarth has an estimated population of 28,050. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Penarth sits in decile 8.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Penarth. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.