Crime Rate in Cardiff: Trends, Hotspots

Overview of Crime in Cardiff

The total recorded crimes in Cardiff, UK in May 2025 are around 4,172 as per the recent police data. This equates to a Cardiff crime rate of 11.52 per 1,000 population.

It's important to note that this crime data is based on the Geographic Boundry data provided by the ONS around Cardiff, encompassing approximately 362,310 residents.

Most occured crime Types

The most prevalent crimes in the area during May were:

  • Violence and sexual offences: (1286) incidents (7.98% increase)
  • Anti-social behaviour: (617) incidents (7.49% increase)
  • Shoplifting: (457) incidents (-16.61% decrease)
Cardiff Crime Hotspots

The surrounding areas of below locations have emerged as crime hotspots,

  • Knox Road with total crimes: 54
  • Bute Crescent with total crimes: 45
  • Moira Terrace with total crimes: 39

Cardiff Police Info:

South Wales Police

Cardiff Crime Analysis: Ward & Area

The difference in crime rates between the most dangerous ward, Cathays (601 crimes), and the safest, Radyr (30 crimes), is 571 crimes. This substantial difference indicates a significant disparity in safety across Cardiff.

Similarly, the area of Cathays South & Bute Park (550 crimes) reports a significantly higher crime count compared to Rhiwbina & Pant-mawr (14 crimes), with a difference of 536 crimes. This substantial difference highlights the diverse crime landscape within Cardiff.

Most Dangerous Wards:

Cathays601
Adamsdown381
Butetown328
Penylan235
Grangetown232

Safest Wards:

Cyncoed50
Pentyrch and St Fagans44
Lisvane and Thornhill39
Rhiwbina38
Radyr30

Most Dangerous Areas:

Cathays South & Bute Park550
Adamsdown381
Pen-y-lan South209
Butetown196
Cardiff Bay196

Safest Areas:

Lisvane24
Thornhill24
Birchgrove20
Cyncoed North19
Rhiwbina & Pant-mawr14

Cardiff Crime Map

Detailed Crime Data Analysis

Monthly Trends

In May 2025, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (1286 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (617 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (1191 incidents) were the most common in April 2025, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (574 incidents) also being high.

For March 2025 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (1355 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (564 incidents).

February 2025 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 1156 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 424 incidents.

During January 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (1252 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (437 cases).

December 2024 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 1180 incidents, and Shoplifting was another prevalent crime category with 470 incidents.

During November 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (1072 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (577 cases).

In October 2024, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (1173 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (587 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (1126 incidents) were the most common in September 2024, with There was a large number of incidents involving Shoplifting (546 incidents) also being high.

For August 2024 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (1237 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (558 incidents).

July 2024 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 1162 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 577 incidents.

Crime TypeCountCrime RateChange

Crime by Type

A total of 1733 Burglary incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 157.55 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Burglary incidents with 192 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025132
April 2025111
March 2025156
February 2025163
January 2025155
December 2024163
November 2024127
October 2024180
September 2024192
August 2024177
July 2024177

A total of 3258 Vehicle crime incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 296.18 incidents per month. July 2024 saw the highest number of Vehicle crime incidents with 397 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025219
April 2025190
March 2025264
February 2025251
January 2025294
December 2024290
November 2024297
October 2024373
September 2024352
August 2024331
July 2024397

A total of 13190 Violence and sexual offences incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 1199.09 incidents per month. March 2025 saw the highest number of Violence and sexual offences incidents with 1355 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20251286
April 20251191
March 20251355
February 20251156
January 20251252
December 20241180
November 20241072
October 20241173
September 20241126
August 20241237
July 20241162

A total of 5433 Shoplifting incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 493.91 incidents per month. August 2024 saw the highest number of Shoplifting incidents with 550 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025457
April 2025548
March 2025512
February 2025411
January 2025410
December 2024470
November 2024508
October 2024512
September 2024546
August 2024550
July 2024509

A total of 2522 Other theft incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 229.27 incidents per month. December 2024 saw the highest number of Other theft incidents with 264 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025237
April 2025198
March 2025248
February 2025234
January 2025231
December 2024264
November 2024215
October 2024199
September 2024225
August 2024220
July 2024251

A total of 1019 Bicycle theft incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 92.64 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Bicycle theft incidents with 127 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202576
April 202595
March 202573
February 202571
January 202563
December 202478
November 2024101
October 2024104
September 2024127
August 2024115
July 2024116

A total of 331 Robbery incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 30.09 incidents per month. May 2025 saw the highest number of Robbery incidents with 62 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202562
April 202550
March 202527
February 202515
January 202525
December 202420
November 202422
October 202431
September 202428
August 202420
July 202431

A total of 376 Possession of weapons incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 34.18 incidents per month. February 2025 saw the highest number of Possession of weapons incidents with 51 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202546
April 202532
March 202545
February 202551
January 202537
December 202424
November 202433
October 202431
September 202420
August 202434
July 202423

A total of 4425 Public order incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 402.27 incidents per month. July 2024 saw the highest number of Public order incidents with 540 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025457
April 2025374
March 2025428
February 2025361
January 2025376
December 2024315
November 2024357
October 2024381
September 2024378
August 2024458
July 2024540

A total of 3168 Criminal damage and arson incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 288.00 incidents per month. May 2025 saw the highest number of Criminal damage and arson incidents with 367 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025367
April 2025268
March 2025301
February 2025293
January 2025252
December 2024272
November 2024252
October 2024284
September 2024261
August 2024284
July 2024334

A total of 1064 Other crime incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 96.73 incidents per month. March 2025 saw the highest number of Other crime incidents with 132 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202588
April 2025114
March 2025132
February 202591
January 2025107
December 202479
November 2024110
October 202482
September 202494
August 202491
July 202476

A total of 5861 Anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 532.82 incidents per month. May 2025 saw the highest number of Anti-social behaviour incidents with 617 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025617
April 2025574
March 2025564
February 2025424
January 2025437
December 2024455
November 2024577
October 2024587
September 2024491
August 2024558
July 2024577

A total of 446 Theft from the person incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 40.55 incidents per month. March 2025 saw the highest number of Theft from the person incidents with 67 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202534
April 202561
March 202567
February 202528
January 202533
December 202432
November 202434
October 202442
September 202419
August 202447
July 202449

A total of 1450 Drugs incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 131.82 incidents per month. February 2025 saw the highest number of Drugs incidents with 356 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202594
April 2025140
March 2025203
February 2025356
January 2025130
December 202486
November 202496
October 202480
September 202466
August 202485
July 2024114

High Crime Locations Cardiff in May 2025

A detailed breakdown of crime incidents by location within the Cardiff postcode area is presented below.

1. Knox Road (Map)
Total54
Violence and sexual offences21
Other crime15
Vehicle crime6
Drugs6
Public order3
Possession of weapons3
2. Bute Crescent (Map)
Total45
Anti-social behaviour24
Violence and sexual offences9
Shoplifting6
Robbery3
Public order3
3. Moira Terrace (Map)
Total39
Shoplifting18
Anti-social behaviour9
Violence and sexual offences6
Vehicle crime3
Criminal damage and arson3
4. North Luton Place (Map)
Total36
Violence and sexual offences21
Public order6
Other theft3
Other crime3
Criminal damage and arson3
5. Heol Eglwys Fair (Map)
Total26
Violence and sexual offences14
Public order4
Other theft4
Theft from the person2
Drugs1
Bicycle theft1
6. Police Station (Map)
Total25
Violence and sexual offences10
Public order9
Drugs5
Possession of weapons1

  • Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Contains Office for National Statistics data licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.