Porthcawl Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

December 2025 in Porthcawl revealed a surprising surge in possession of weapons, jumping 300% compared to November, a development that stands out against broader trends of declining crime rates. The area recorded a total of 101 crimes, resulting in a crime rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents—11.4% below the UK average of 7.0. This overall decline, however, masks significant variations across crime types. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common category, accounting for 35.6% of all incidents, though their rate (2.2 per 1,000) is 14% below the UK average. This may reflect a combination of local policing efforts and the seasonal context of December, when heightened police presence during Christmas shopping could deter violent crime. Conversely, public order offences—such as anti-social behaviour and disorder—rose sharply, with a rate 82% above the UK average, a pattern consistent with the area's built-up nature and the social interactions typical of the holiday season. The seasonal context of December, marked by Christmas shopping, dark evenings, and the potential for empty homes over holidays, likely contributed to shifts in crime patterns. For instance, the 57.7% drop in shoplifting may be linked to reduced foot traffic in retail areas during the holiday period, while the spike in public order offences could be tied to increased social gatherings. These dynamics illustrate how local factors interact with broader seasonal trends to shape crime profiles in urban areas like Porthcawl.

December 2025 revealed a striking 300% increase in possession of weapons, rising from 1 to 4 incidents. This surge, though small in absolute terms, marks a dramatic shift and may reflect heightened tensions during the festive period. Concurrently, shoplifting fell sharply by 57.7%, from 26 to 11 incidents, a drop consistent with the seasonal slowdown in retail activity and increased police presence during Christmas. Violent crimes also decreased by 20%, from 45 to 36, though this remains the most prevalent category at 35.6% of all crimes. Porthcawl's violence and sexual offences rate (2.2 per 1,000) is 14% below the UK average, but public order crimes are 82% above the national average, a disparity that may reflect the area's social dynamics during holiday gatherings. These contrasts underscore the complexity of local crime patterns, with some categories aligning with national trends while others diverge sharply.

Porthcawl's crime rate in December 2025 fell 16.5% compared to November, dropping from 7.4 to 6.2 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical of December, when holiday-related activity may reduce certain crime types. Locally, 3 crimes were reported per day on average, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents in a built-up area with 16,260 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 161 residents, a monthly exposure rate that translates to a relatively low frequency compared to other areas. This statistic, while specific to Porthcawl, provides a tangible measure of how often residents might encounter crime in their daily lives. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that the area remains below the UK average, though localised spikes in specific categories—such as possession of weapons—highlight the need for targeted awareness.