Crime in Porthcawl: statistics, rates and trends
1,247 crimes were recorded in Porthcawl in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Porthcawl at a glance
- Crime trends in Porthcawl
- Types of crime in Porthcawl
- Porthcawl compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Porthcawl
- Streets with the most crime in Porthcawl
- What happened after crimes were reported in Porthcawl
- Population and deprivation in Porthcawl
- Questions about crime in Porthcawl
- About this data
1,247 crimes were recorded in Porthcawl in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 486 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Porthcawl has the 673rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Porthcawl | Bridgend | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,247 | 12,344 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.7 | 83.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 16,268 | 147,530 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Porthcawl was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,452 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (1,096). Over the whole period it fell 0%, 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 | 1,247 | 76.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,261 | 77.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,340 | 82.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,096 | 67.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,178 | 72.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,452 | 89.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,292 | 79.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,368 | 84.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,253 | 77.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 124 |
| June 2026 | 116 |
| May 2026 | 116 |
| April 2026 | 83 |
| March 2026 | 98 |
| February 2026 | 84 |
| January 2026 | 92 |
| December 2025 | 101 |
| November 2025 | 121 |
| October 2025 | 99 |
| September 2025 | 117 |
| August 2025 | 96 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Porthcawl 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 vehicle crime (+74%) and shoplifting (+39%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-29%) and drugs (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 486 | 29.9 | 0.87 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 167 | 10.3 | 1.24 | +39% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 142 | 8.7 | 0.57 | -29% |
| Public order | 129 | 7.9 | 1.19 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 92 | 5.7 | 0.83 | -6% |
| Other theft | 64 | 3.9 | 0.62 | -9% |
| Burglary | 40 | 2.5 | 0.70 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 40 | 2.5 | 0.50 | +74% |
| Drugs | 31 | 1.9 | 0.58 | -11% |
| Other crime | 24 | 1.5 | 0.70 | +20% |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 0.8 | 0.82 | -7% |
| Theft from the person | 12 | 0.7 | 0.44 | +500% |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.2 | 0.18 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.22 | +50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Porthcawl
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Porthcawl recorded 486 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 39.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Porthcawl
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Porthcawl recorded 167 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 13.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Porthcawl
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Porthcawl recorded 142 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 11.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Porthcawl
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Porthcawl recorded 129 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Porthcawl
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Porthcawl recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Porthcawl
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Porthcawl recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Porthcawl
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Porthcawl recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Porthcawl
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Porthcawl recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 74% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Porthcawl
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Porthcawl recorded 31 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 11% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Porthcawl
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Porthcawl recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Porthcawl
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Porthcawl recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Porthcawl
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Porthcawl recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 500% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Porthcawl
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Porthcawl recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Porthcawl
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Porthcawl recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Porthcawl, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Porthcawl.
5 areas within Porthcawl, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Porthcawl East Central had the highest rate (128.6 per 1,000) and Rest Bay the lowest (16.8). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porthcawl East Central | Neighbourhood | 5,185 | 667 | 128.6 |
| Newton | Neighbourhood | 3,747 | 336 | 89.7 |
| Porthcawl West Central | Neighbourhood | 1,609 | 120 | 74.6 |
| Nottage | Neighbourhood | 3,281 | 83 | 25.3 |
| Rest Bay | Neighbourhood | 2,446 | 41 | 16.8 |
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 Porthcawl over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 199 |
| On or near Parking Area | 94 |
| On or near St Anne'S Crescent | 59 |
| On or near Suffolk Close | 42 |
| On or near Clevis Hill | 28 |
| On or near John Street | 24 |
| On or near Poplar Crescent | 24 |
| On or near Sandy Lane | 23 |
| On or near Maesteg Terrace | 22 |
| On or near Nightclub | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Porthcawl 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 | 366 | 29.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 263 | 21.1% |
| Under investigation | 167 | 13.4% |
| Not recorded | 142 | 11.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 108 | 8.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 70 | 5.6% |
| Local resolution | 67 | 5.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 36 | 2.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 0.4% |
Porthcawl has an estimated population of 16,268. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Porthcawl sits in decile 7.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Porthcawl |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 12.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 34.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.3% |
| Social rented homes | 5.8% |
| Private rented homes | 16.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.7 |
Is Porthcawl a safe place to live?
Porthcawl recorded 76.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Porthcawl?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 486 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (167).
Is crime in Porthcawl going up or down?
Recorded crime in Porthcawl was down 1% on the year before: 1,247 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,261 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Porthcawl?
Porthcawl 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 Porthcawl. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.