Crime in Pontardawe: statistics, rates and trends

474 crimes were recorded in Pontardawe in the 12 months to July 2026, 81.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 236 reports (50% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Pontardawe has the 590th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Pontardawe was highest in the year to July 2021 (612 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (450). Over the whole period it fell 5%, 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 Pontardawe 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 violence and sexual offences (+19%) and criminal damage and arson (+15%). The largest falls were in public order (-18%) and other theft (-13%).

Violence and sexual offences in Pontardawe

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Pontardawe recorded 236 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 49.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Pontardawe

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Pontardawe recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 12.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Pontardawe

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Pontardawe recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 11.4% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Pontardawe

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Pontardawe recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Pontardawe

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Pontardawe recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Pontardawe

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Pontardawe recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Pontardawe

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Pontardawe recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Pontardawe

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Pontardawe recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Pontardawe

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Pontardawe recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Pontardawe

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Pontardawe recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Pontardawe

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Pontardawe recorded 4 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Pontardawe

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Pontardawe recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Pontardawe

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Pontardawe recorded 2 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Pontardawe

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Pontardawe recorded 2 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 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

1 areas within Pontardawe, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Pontardawe had the highest rate (81.6 per 1,000) and Pontardawe the lowest (81.6). 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 Pontardawe over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Pontardawe 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.

Pontardawe has an estimated population of 5,806. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Pontardawe sits in decile 4.3, more 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 Pontardawe. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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