Maesteg Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Maesteg's May 2023 crime rate of 9.5 per 1,000 residents places it 18.8% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This discrepancy is most pronounced in anti-social behaviour, which occurred at a rate of 2.4 per 1,000 — 80% higher than the UK average. The town's crime profile is dominated by violent offences (31.6% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (24.9%), with public order offences (13.6%) forming the third-largest category. These patterns align with the seasonal context of May, when longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising often lead to higher levels of public disorder. The elevated rate of anti-social behaviour may partly reflect the town's mix of residential and commercial areas, where late-night activity in local pubs and shops could contribute to disturbances. Violent crimes, though lower than anti-social behaviour, still represent a significant portion of the total, with 56 incidents reported — 18.8% above the UK average for this category. This suggests a need for continued focus on community safety initiatives in areas with high foot traffic. The data also shows a notable gap between property crimes (25.3% of total) and violent crimes, indicating that while personal safety remains a concern, property-related issues are less prevalent than might be expected in a built-up area. The relatively low rates of burglary (2.8%) and vehicle crime (1.1%) may be influenced by Maesteg's compact layout and limited commuter parking, which could reduce opportunities for such offences. However, the sharp increase in shoplifting (8.5 per 1,000) — 63% above the UK average — raises questions about retail security measures in the town's high streets. These patterns, combined with the seasonal context, highlight the combination of local demographics, economic factors, and environmental conditions in shaping crime trends.

May 2023 saw a 300% increase in drug-related crimes, rising from 1 to 4 incidents — the most dramatic month-on-month change in the dataset. This surge could reflect heightened police activity or shifts in local drug markets, though no definitive causal link is evident. Shoplifting also rose sharply by 114.3%, with 15 incidents recorded compared to 7 in April. This jump may be linked to the Easter holiday period, which typically sees increased retail activity and potential vulnerabilities in store security. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 37.5%, dropping from 24 to 15 incidents — a decline that may partly reflect seasonal changes, as warmer weather reduces the likelihood of arson for heating purposes. The breakdown of crimes reveals stark contrasts with UK averages: anti-social behaviour (2.4 per 1,000) and public order offences (1.3 per 1,000) are significantly higher than national figures, while other theft (0.3 per 1,000) and burglary (0.3 per 1,000) are below UK levels. This divergence suggests that Maesteg's unique social dynamics — tied to its role as a commuter hub or its proximity to Bridgend — may contribute to the disproportionate focus on anti-social behaviour. Residents might find the 8.5 per 1,000 rate of shoplifting particularly relevant, as this figure is 63% higher than the UK average and could impact local businesses. The data also shows that vehicle crime remains relatively low (0.1 per 1,000), 78% below the UK average, which may be due to the town's compact size reducing opportunities for vehicle-related offences.

Maesteg's crime rate remained stable in May 2023 compared to April, with no change from the previous month's rate of 9.5 per 1,000. This consistency suggests that any short-term fluctuations in specific crime categories were offset by broader trends. On a daily basis, the town recorded approximately 6 crimes per day — a figure that, while seemingly low, translates to a monthly exposure rate of 1 crime per 105 residents. This statistic provides a tangible sense of the frequency of crime in Maesteg, though it must be contextualised within the town's population of 18,585. When scaled to the population, the 9.5 per 1,000 rate means that over the course of the month, every resident faced a roughly 0.95% chance of being directly affected by a crime. This figure is higher than the UK average, which suggests that residents may perceive a greater risk of victimisation than the national average. The daily crime count, while not directly comparable to UK-wide figures (which are not provided), offers a local perspective on the pace of criminal activity. The stability in the overall rate contrasts with the dramatic month-on-month changes in specific categories, such as the 300% increase in drug-related crimes. This highlights the importance of distinguishing between aggregate trends and individual crime types when assessing public safety. The comparison also underscores that while Maesteg's crime rate is elevated overall, its population size and density may influence the distribution of crime types, with anti-social behaviour and public order offences forming a disproportionate share of the total.