Porthcawl Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 brought an unexpected surge in burglary to Porthcawl, a Built-Up Area within Bridgend, despite the overall crime rate remaining 26.8% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000 residents. The area recorded 84 crimes, translating to 5.2 per 1,000, with violent crimes dominating the landscape at 52.4% of all incidents. This proportion, though slightly above the UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.6 per 1,000), contrasts with the UK’s broader trend of higher property crime rates. Seasonal factors such as Christmas shopping and dark evenings typically influence crime patterns, yet Porthcawl’s data reveals a marked divergence in the distribution of offences. While violent crimes remain the most prevalent, property crimes like burglary and shoplifting show stark fluctuations. The sharp rise in burglary—jumping from 1 to 5 cases—defies expectations for a coastal town with a population of 16,260, which might be anticipated to see lower burglary rates due to its smaller scale. This anomaly could be linked to temporary vulnerabilities, such as increased absenteeism during the holiday season or localized economic pressures. Meanwhile, the persistent underperformance in categories like criminal damage and arson (43% below UK average) may reflect the area’s character as a relatively quiet coastal community with fewer industrial or commercial targets. The data suggests a combination of seasonal demands and the area’s demographic profile, where violence and sexual offences dominate despite the overall safety margin, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in high-risk categories.

December 2024 saw a 400% increase in burglary cases, rising from 1 to 5, an anomaly that contrasts sharply with the 91.7% drop in shoplifting, which fell from 12 to 1. This shift suggests a reallocation of criminal activity, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as empty homes over holidays or increased home security measures in retail areas. Violent crimes, which accounted for 52.4% of all incidents, remained 5% above the UK average for violence and sexual offences at 2.7 per 1,000, despite the overall rate being 26.8% lower nationally. The 100% rise in possession of weapons, from 1 to 2 cases, introduces a new concern, though the small sample size means this figure must be interpreted with caution. Meanwhile, categories like criminal damage and arson (43% below UK average) and other theft (81% below) continued to show significant underperformance compared to national benchmarks, possibly reflecting the area’s lower population density and reduced opportunities for such crimes.

Porthcawl’s December 2024 crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents marks a 7.7% increase from the previous month’s rate of 4.8, reflecting a modest upward trend. On a daily basis, the area experiences approximately 3 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for local residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 194 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of crime compared to larger urban centres. With a population of 16,260, the area’s crime profile remains markedly safer than the UK average, which stands at 7.1 per 1,000. This contrast is particularly notable in categories such as criminal damage and arson, where Porthcawl’s rate is 43% below the UK average. However, the increase in violent crimes and the sharp rise in burglary suggest localized pressures that may warrant closer attention. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the overall rate remains low, the distribution of crime types indicates areas for targeted policing or community engagement.