Crime in Port Talbot: statistics, rates and trends
3,268 crimes were recorded in Port Talbot in the 12 months to July 2026, 110.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Port Talbot at a glance
- Crime trends in Port Talbot
- Types of crime in Port Talbot
- Port Talbot compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Port Talbot
- Streets with the most crime in Port Talbot
- What happened after crimes were reported in Port Talbot
- Population and deprivation in Port Talbot
- Questions about crime in Port Talbot
- About this data
3,268 crimes were recorded in Port Talbot in the 12 months to July 2026, 110.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,311 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Port Talbot has the 255th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Port Talbot | Neath Port Talbot | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 3,268 | 11,633 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 110.5 | 81.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 29,587 | 143,249 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Port Talbot was highest in the year to July 2021 (3,768 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (3,268). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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 | 3,268 | 110.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 3,561 | 120.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 3,636 | 122.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 3,313 | 112.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 3,443 | 116.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 3,768 | 127.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 3,649 | 123.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 3,745 | 126.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 3,715 | 125.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 387 |
| June 2026 | 288 |
| May 2026 | 288 |
| April 2026 | 285 |
| March 2026 | 246 |
| February 2026 | 253 |
| January 2026 | 228 |
| December 2025 | 222 |
| November 2025 | 234 |
| October 2025 | 312 |
| September 2025 | 250 |
| August 2025 | 275 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Port Talbot 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, public order, shoplifting. The largest falls were in burglary (-31%) and other crime (-27%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,311 | 44.3 | 1.29 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 453 | 15.3 | 1.00 | -12% |
| Public order | 403 | 13.6 | 2.05 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 349 | 11.8 | 1.42 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 241 | 8.1 | 1.20 | -10% |
| Other theft | 159 | 5.4 | 0.84 | -12% |
| Vehicle crime | 84 | 2.8 | 0.58 | -18% |
| Other crime | 70 | 2.4 | 1.12 | -27% |
| Drugs | 68 | 2.3 | 0.70 | -13% |
| Burglary | 59 | 2.0 | 0.56 | -31% |
| Robbery | 22 | 0.7 | 0.55 | +120% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 0.7 | 0.70 | -26% |
| Bicycle theft | 18 | 0.6 | 0.74 | -22% |
| Theft from the person | 11 | 0.4 | 0.22 | -27% |
Violence and sexual offences in Port Talbot
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Port Talbot recorded 1,311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (44.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 40.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Port Talbot
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Port Talbot recorded 453 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 13.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Port Talbot
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Port Talbot recorded 403 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 12.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Port Talbot
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Port Talbot recorded 349 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 10.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Port Talbot
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Port Talbot recorded 241 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Port Talbot
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Port Talbot recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Port Talbot
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Port Talbot recorded 84 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Port Talbot
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Port Talbot recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Port Talbot
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Port Talbot recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Port Talbot
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Port Talbot recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Port Talbot
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Port Talbot recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 120% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Port Talbot
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Port Talbot recorded 20 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 down 26% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Port Talbot
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Port Talbot recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Port Talbot
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Port Talbot recorded 11 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 down 27% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Port Talbot, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Port Talbot.
5 areas within Port Talbot, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Aberavon had the highest rate (133.2 per 1,000) and Margam and Tai-bach the lowest (85.4). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberavon | Neighbourhood | 5,699 | 759 | 133.2 |
| Port Talbot | Neighbourhood | 5,818 | 706 | 121.3 |
| Sandfields West | Neighbourhood | 6,837 | 715 | 104.6 |
| Sandfields East | Neighbourhood | 6,743 | 682 | 101.1 |
| Margam and Tai-bach | Neighbourhood | 7,883 | 673 | 85.4 |
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 Port Talbot over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 209 |
| On or near Parking Area | 167 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 106 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 76 |
| On or near Hospital | 66 |
| On or near Llys Rupert Hallowes | 59 |
| On or near Port Talbot Parkway | 56 |
| On or near Chalice Court | 44 |
| On or near Afandale | 42 |
| On or near Gol Wg-Y-Mor | 35 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Port Talbot 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 | 1,078 | 33.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 686 | 21.0% |
| Under investigation | 472 | 14.4% |
| Not recorded | 453 | 13.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 206 | 6.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 137 | 4.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 111 | 3.4% |
| Local resolution | 55 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 45 | 1.4% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 11 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.1% |
Port Talbot has an estimated population of 29,587. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Port Talbot sits in decile 2.6, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Port Talbot |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.8% |
| Social rented homes | 24.5% |
| Private rented homes | 17.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.6 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 37.6% |
Is Port Talbot a safe place to live?
Port Talbot recorded 110.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Port Talbot?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (453).
Is crime in Port Talbot going up or down?
Recorded crime in Port Talbot was down 8% on the year before: 3,268 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 3,561 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Port Talbot?
Port Talbot is policed by South Wales. 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 Port Talbot. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.