Porthcawl Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Porthcawl's overall crime rate in January 2026 stood at 5.7 per 1,000 residents, marking a 16.2% reduction compared to the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This performance places the area among the safer built-up areas in Wales, though seasonal factors may have influenced the figures. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 38.0% of all reported incidents, followed by shoplifting (19.6%) and public order offences (12.0%). The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days—likely contributed to the lower overall crime rate, particularly in outdoor and retail-related categories. However, the dominance of violent crime suggests persistent social or environmental challenges in the area. The rate of shoplifting, though still below the UK average for most categories, was 93% higher than the national figure for that offence. This discrepancy may reflect Porthcawl's proximity to retail hubs or unmet demand during the festive season, though further analysis would be needed to confirm this hypothesis. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted, with violent crime accounting for over a third of all incidents, a pattern consistent with urban areas experiencing social tensions or limited community engagement initiatives. The data underscores the need for targeted interventions in high-risk sectors, while the overall decline relative to the UK average indicates progress in maintaining public safety despite these challenges.

January 2026 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with shoplifting increasing by 63.6% compared to December, rising from 11 to 18 incidents. This sharp rise, though still below the UK average for shoplifting (0.6 per 1,000), highlights potential vulnerabilities in retail security or unmet demand during the post-holiday period. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 83.3%, declining from 6 to 1 incident, a drop that may be linked to reduced traffic volumes during the winter months or improved security measures in parking areas. Anti-social behaviour also rose by 50.0%, from 6 to 9 incidents, suggesting possible pressures on community cohesion or increased reporting during the colder season. Meanwhile, burglary fell by 60.0%, from 5 to 2 incidents, a reduction that could reflect enhanced home security awareness or the impact of shorter daylight hours deterring opportunistic offenders. The area's violent crime rate (2.2 per 1,000) was 12% below the UK average for that category, but shoplifting's 93% excess over the national figure underscores the need for targeted retail crime prevention strategies. These contrasting trends illustrate the combination of seasonal factors and local conditions in shaping the crime profile.

Porthcawl's crime rate in January 2026 dropped by 8.9% compared to December's 6.2 per 1,000, reflecting a continuation of the area's generally lower crime levels relative to the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 3 crimes per day in January, a figure that, while modest, remains a tangible presence for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 177 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, when contextualised against Porthcawl's population of 16,260, suggests a relatively low frequency of incidents per individual. This statistic is particularly notable when compared to the UK average, where the equivalent figure would be significantly higher. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the disparity between Porthcawl and larger urban centres, where higher population densities often correlate with elevated crime rates. However, the area's performance must be viewed through the lens of its unique characteristics: as a built-up area within Bridgend, Porthcawl's crime profile is influenced by its proximity to both rural and urban environments. The combination of reduced retail footfall in January and the persistence of violent crime suggests that while the area benefits from lower overall rates, specific challenges remain in managing social tensions and retail-related offences.