Crime in Pontypool: statistics, rates and trends
2,694 crimes were recorded in Pontypool in the 12 months to August 2026, 97.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Pontypool at a glance
- Crime trends in Pontypool
- Types of crime in Pontypool
- Pontypool compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Pontypool
- Streets with the most crime in Pontypool
- What happened after crimes were reported in Pontypool
- Demographics of Pontypool
- Questions about crime in Pontypool
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,079), anti-social behaviour (409) and criminal damage and arson (299) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 391st of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Pontypool | Torfaen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,694 | 11,756 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 97.2 | 124.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 27,702 | 94,119 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Pontypool peaked in the year to August 2025 (2,913 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (2,135). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,694 | 97.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,913 | 105.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,536 | 91.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,258 | 81.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,135 | 77.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,303 | 83.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,860 | 103.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,502 | 90.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,467 | 89.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 269 |
| July 2026 | 318 |
| June 2026 | 246 |
| May 2026 | 223 |
| April 2026 | 219 |
| March 2026 | 192 |
| February 2026 | 181 |
| January 2026 | 217 |
| December 2025 | 177 |
| November 2025 | 188 |
| October 2025 | 236 |
| September 2025 | 228 |
Compared with England and Wales, Pontypool recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (60% above the national rate), public order (52% above the national rate) and other crime (40% above the national rate), and notably less drugs (40% below) and shoplifting (39% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 63 to 95 and other theft rose from 108 to 149, while burglary fell from 98 to 77.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,079 | 39.0 | 34.2 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 409 | 14.8 | 15.4 | -13% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 299 | 10.8 | 6.7 | -2% |
| Public order | 281 | 10.1 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Other theft | 149 | 5.4 | 6.4 | +38% |
| Shoplifting | 144 | 5.2 | 8.5 | +18% |
| Vehicle crime | 95 | 3.4 | 5.0 | +51% |
| Other crime | 82 | 3.0 | 2.1 | +2% |
| Burglary | 77 | 2.8 | 3.6 | -21% |
| Drugs | 54 | 1.9 | 3.3 | -11% |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Pontypool; the highest is Abertillery (143.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Oakdale (61.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Pontypool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abersychan | 743 | 103.0 | +6% |
| Cwmbrân | 6,274 | 138.3 | +42% |
| Abertillery | 1,570 | 143.4 | +47% |
| Newbridge | 567 | 99.5 | +2% |
| Abercarn | 501 | 92.1 | -5% |
| Oakdale | 331 | 61.3 | -37% |
| Caerleon | 682 | 86.1 | -11% |
| Risca | 1,593 | 110.7 | +14% |
Of the 5 areas within Pontypool, Pontypool Fawr had the highest crime rate (167.3 per 1,000) and New Inn the lowest (61.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontypool Fawr | Neighbourhood | 7,467 | 1,249 | 167.3 |
| Trevethin and Penygarn | Neighbourhood | 5,342 | 597 | 111.8 |
| Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood | Neighbourhood | 3,454 | 379 | 109.7 |
| Panteg | Neighbourhood | 7,501 | 788 | 105.1 |
| New Inn | Neighbourhood | 5,770 | 354 | 61.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 29% of the crime recorded in Pontypool over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (171).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 171 |
| On or near Hospital | 103 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 82 |
| On or near Hospital Road | 77 |
| On or near Hill Street | 72 |
| On or near Lower Park Terrace | 63 |
| On or near Wellfield Lane | 62 |
| On or near Martindale Road | 57 |
| On or near St Luke'S Road | 49 |
| On or near Coed Camlas | 37 |
Of the 2,285 crimes in Pontypool with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 409 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 903 | 39.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 583 | 25.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 467 | 20.4% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 89 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 61 | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 60 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 57 | 2.5% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 34 | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Pontypool has an estimated population of 27,702 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less private renting (11%, against 20%), fewer students (5.2%, against 7.9%) and fewer households without a car (18%, against 23%). On the Wales WIMD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Pontypool average decile 5.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Pontypool | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 | 5.5 (Wales) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 6.3% | 9.5% (Wales) |
Is Pontypool a safe place to live?
Pontypool recorded 97.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 391st of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson and public order.
What is the most common crime in Pontypool?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,079 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (409).
Is crime in Pontypool going up or down?
Recorded crime in Pontypool was down 8% on the year before: 2,694 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,913 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Pontypool?
About 27,702 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Pontypool?
Pontypool is policed by Gwent.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.