Porthcawl Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a town of 16,260 residents, Porthcawl recorded 78 crimes in November 2024, equating to 4.8 crimes per 1,000 people. This rate is 36.8% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently safer profile compared to national trends. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences (30 cases, 38.5% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (16 cases, 20.5%) and shoplifting (12 cases, 15.4%). These patterns align with the area's character as a coastal town with a mix of residential areas and retail hubs. The spike in violent crime may partly explain the higher proportion compared to the UK average for this category, where violence and sexual offences are 26% below the national rate. Seasonal factors also appear to influence crime patterns: shoplifting increased dramatically during Black Friday shopping, while the transition to darker evenings may have contributed to higher anti-social behaviour reports. Despite this, Porthcawl's overall crime rate remains significantly lower than the UK average, consistent with its smaller population and lower density compared to major urban centres.

November saw a 300% surge in shoplifting, rising from 3 to 12 cases—a stark contrast to the UK average for this category, where shoplifting rates are 1% higher. This spike coincides with Black Friday promotions, which likely drove increased foot traffic in retail areas. Conversely, burglary rates plummeted by 87.5% (from 8 to 1 case), and vehicle crime dropped by 75% (from 4 to 1 case), suggesting potential improvements in security measures or police presence. Anti-social behaviour, while still the second most common crime, remained 10% below the UK average, a trend that has persisted for several months. The town's violent crime rate (1.9 per 1,000) is 26% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences, a category that often sees higher rates in urban areas with more nightlife activity. Residents may find the 12 shoplifting cases particularly notable, as this is the highest monthly figure recorded in Porthcawl for this category since 2020.

Porthcawl's crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 in November 2024 represents a 33.9% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.3 per 1,000. This decline is especially significant when considering that the town experienced 3 crimes per day on average in November—a rate that would mean one resident in every 208 people reported a crime over the course of the month. Comparing this to the UK average, Porthcawl's overall safety profile is striking: its crime rate is nearly half that of the national average. The daily crime figure provides a tangible context for residents: in a town with 16,260 people, 3 crimes occurring each day translates to a relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban areas. This is further underscored by the fact that Porthcawl's violent crime rate is 26% below the UK average, while property crime rates are also consistently lower. The town's smaller size and coastal character likely contribute to this disparity, as larger cities tend to have higher concentrations of both violent and property crimes. These figures suggest that Porthcawl remains a relatively safe place to live, with crime levels that are significantly lower than those experienced nationally.