Pontllanfraith Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

February 2024 marked a significant shift in Pontllanfraith's crime profile, with burglary rates surging by 300% compared to the previous month, while other categories showed marked declines. The area's overall crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents placed it 14.1% below the UK average, a position consistent with its status as a built-up area within Caerphilly. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 54.8% of all reported incidents, a rate 32% above the UK average for this category. This emphasis on violent crime contrasts with lower-than-average rates for property-related offences such as shoplifting (81% below UK average) and anti-social behaviour (43% below UK average). The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity—may have contributed to the dominance of indoor-based violent offences, while the drop in anti-social behaviour could reflect reduced social gatherings during the pre-spring lull. However, the sharp increase in burglary, though still low in absolute terms, raises questions about potential local factors such as changes in housing patterns or temporary vulnerabilities in property security. The area's crime profile illustrates a combination of national trends and local conditions, where violent crime remains a persistent concern despite the broader context of lower overall rates. This duality underscores the need for targeted interventions that address both the immediate risks of violent offences and the emerging challenges highlighted by spikes in property-related crimes.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift occurred in burglary, which saw a 300% increase from one incident in January to four in February. This spike, though still low in absolute terms, contrasts with other categories that experienced reductions. Anti-social behaviour dropped by 60% (from 15 to 6), potentially linked to the transition from the winter season to early spring, when community activities might shift indoors. Shoplifting also fell by 50%, from two to one incident, a decrease that may reflect lower foot traffic in retail areas during February. Violence and sexual offences remained high, with a rate of 3.3 per 1,000—32% above the UK average for this category. Conversely, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting were significantly below UK averages, at 43% and 81% lower respectively. These divergences highlight the area's unique crime profile, where violent offences dominate despite overall lower rates. A resident might find the 300% rise in burglary particularly noteworthy, as it underscores the need for heightened vigilance in property security during this period.

Pontllanfraith's crime rate in February 2024 stood at 6.1 per 1,000 residents, a 6.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.5 per 1,000. This decline aligns with broader seasonal patterns observed in similar built-up areas, where winter months often see reduced outdoor activity and fewer opportunities for property crimes. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly two crimes per day, reflecting a steady but low-level presence of criminal activity. When scaled to the local population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 165 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the community size. This rate remains lower than the UK average, with the area's overall crime rate 14.1% below the national benchmark. The consistency in crime trends suggests that local factors—such as the built-up area's layout, community engagement initiatives, or police presence—may play a role in sustaining this below-average profile. However, the month-on-month fluctuations, particularly in burglary and criminal damage, indicate that specific local conditions or events could temporarily influence crime patterns.