Crime in Sarn: statistics, rates and trends
1,089 crimes were recorded in Sarn in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
1,089 crimes were recorded in Sarn in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 475 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Sarn has the 529th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sarn | Bridgend | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,089 | 12,344 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 86.0 | 83.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 12,666 | 147,530 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sarn was highest in the year to July 2020 (1,298 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (995). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 | 1,089 | 86.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,097 | 86.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,051 | 83.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 995 | 78.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,016 | 80.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,233 | 97.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,298 | 102.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,228 | 97.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,168 | 92.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 90 |
| June 2026 | 83 |
| May 2026 | 85 |
| April 2026 | 82 |
| March 2026 | 94 |
| February 2026 | 81 |
| January 2026 | 101 |
| December 2025 | 88 |
| November 2025 | 97 |
| October 2025 | 107 |
| September 2025 | 98 |
| August 2025 | 83 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sarn 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 other crime (+29%) and vehicle crime (+12%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-11%) and other theft (-10%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 475 | 37.5 | 1.10 | -0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 159 | 12.6 | 0.82 | -11% |
| Public order | 133 | 10.5 | 1.58 | +0% |
| Shoplifting | 89 | 7.0 | 0.85 | +2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 69 | 5.4 | 0.80 | +10% |
| Other theft | 43 | 3.4 | 0.53 | -10% |
| Drugs | 32 | 2.5 | 0.77 | +7% |
| Other crime | 31 | 2.4 | 1.16 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 29 | 2.3 | 0.46 | +12% |
| Burglary | 15 | 1.2 | 0.33 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.6 | 0.33 | +133% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.4 | 0.41 | -55% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 0.12 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Sarn
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sarn recorded 475 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 43.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sarn
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sarn recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 14.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sarn
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sarn recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 12.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sarn
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sarn recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sarn
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sarn recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sarn
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sarn recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sarn
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sarn recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sarn
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sarn recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sarn
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sarn recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sarn
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sarn recorded 15 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sarn
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sarn recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 133% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sarn
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sarn recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sarn
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sarn recorded 2 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Sarn, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sarn.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sarn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgend | 5,104 | 97.5 | +13% |
| Pencoed | 567 | 56.9 | -34% |
| Pyle | 1,171 | 78.9 | -8% |
| Maesteg | 1,838 | 99.2 | +15% |
| Llanharan and Brynna | 748 | 85.8 | -0% |
| Porthcawl | 1,247 | 76.7 | -11% |
| Tonyrefail | 840 | 84.5 | -2% |
| Tonypandy | 1,365 | 79.2 | -8% |
2 areas within Sarn, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. St Bride's Minor and Ynysawdre had the highest rate (87.9 per 1,000) and Aberkenfig the lowest (78.7). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Bride's Minor and Ynysawdre | Neighbourhood | 10,085 | 886 | 87.9 |
| Aberkenfig | Neighbourhood | 2,581 | 203 | 78.7 |
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 Sarn over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 85 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 64 |
| On or near Supermarket | 34 |
| On or near Parking Area | 33 |
| On or near Heol-Y-Fferm | 32 |
| On or near Merfield Close | 28 |
| On or near Ynysteg | 26 |
| On or near Queen'S Avenue | 24 |
| On or near Terfyn Ynysawdre | 22 |
| On or near Clos Tyn-Y-Coed | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sarn 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 | 404 | 37.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 180 | 16.5% |
| Not recorded | 159 | 14.6% |
| Under investigation | 137 | 12.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 74 | 6.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 67 | 6.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 22 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 22 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 19 | 1.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
Sarn has an estimated population of 12,666. On the Wales WIMD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sarn sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sarn |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.9% |
| Social rented homes | 18.0% |
| Private rented homes | 13.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
Is Sarn a safe place to live?
Sarn recorded 86.0 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 Sarn?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 475 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (159).
Is crime in Sarn going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sarn was almost unchanged on the year before: 1,089 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,097 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sarn?
Sarn 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 Sarn. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.