Abertillery Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2023, Abertillery recorded 149 crimes across a population of 15,476 residents, translating to a crime rate of 9.6 per 1,000. This figure represents a 33.3% increase compared to the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, underscoring the area's elevated risk profile. The crime mix reveals a stark contrast between violent and property offences: 51 incidents of violence and sexual offences (34.2% of total crimes) and 48 property crimes, with the former category significantly outpacing national trends. Violence and sexual offences alone were 26% above the UK average, while anti-social behaviour and criminal damage were 115% and 150% higher respectively. These patterns may be influenced by the area's built-up character, where dense populations and limited space could contribute to higher rates of public disorder. Seasonal factors in December—dark evenings, holiday-related economic activity, and the temporary absence of some residents—likely exacerbate these trends. The sharp increase in shoplifting (55.6% month-on-month) may be partly explained by the Christmas shopping peak, though the area's rate for this category remains below the UK average. Conversely, burglary and other theft were lower, with burglary at 0.1 per 1,000 (71% below UK) and other theft at 0.3 per 1,000 (49% below UK), suggesting that local security measures or demographic factors may mitigate these risks. The overall crime rate, while lower than November's 10.4 per 1,000, still indicates a need for sustained community engagement and policing strategies tailored to the area's specific challenges.

December 2023 witnessed a significant 55.6% increase in shoplifting incidents, rising from nine to 14 cases. This surge aligns with the seasonal context of pre-Christmas retail activity, though it remains below the UK average for the category. Concurrently, vehicle crime rose by 40.0%, potentially linked to increased traffic during holiday periods or changes in parking patterns. In contrast, drug-related crimes fell sharply by 75.0%, from four to one incident, a shift that may reflect seasonal variations in substance use or law enforcement focus. The breakdown of crime types reveals stark contrasts with national trends: anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, and public order offences all exceeded UK averages by over 100%, while burglary and other theft were lower. These disparities highlight the area's specific vulnerabilities, with anti-social behaviour at 2.0 per 1,000 (115% above UK) and criminal damage at 1.4 per 1,000 (150% above UK). For residents, the most immediate concern may be the 34.2% share of violent crimes (51 incidents), which is 26% higher than the UK average for this category, suggesting a need for targeted community initiatives.

Abertillery's crime rate in December 2023 (9.6 per 1,000 residents) marked a 7.4% decrease from the previous month's rate of 10.4 per 1,000. This decline, though modest, suggests a slight moderation in criminal activity over the final month of the year. Daily crime activity averaged five incidents per day, translating to roughly one reported crime for every 104 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure provides a tangible sense of frequency for local residents, highlighting that while the rate is lower than November, it remains elevated compared to the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Abertillery's crime burden is higher than the national context, with 33.3% more incidents per 1,000 residents than the UK overall. This contrast underscores the area's unique challenges in crime prevention, particularly in categories like anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, which are 115% and 150% above UK averages respectively. The local context—likely shaped by the area's built-up character and seasonal factors—may explain the persistence of these elevated rates despite the month-on-month decline.