Cardiff Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Cardiff’s December 2025 crime picture reveals a stark contrast between violent and property crime trends. Violence and sexual offences dominate, accounting for 35.6% of all crimes, a rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents—9% above the UK average. This aligns with the city’s status as a major urban centre with a vibrant nightlife and university presence, factors that likely contribute to higher rates of such offences. Public order offences, at 10.7% of total crimes, are 105% above the UK average, reflecting the challenges of managing crowds during the Christmas shopping rush and festive events. Shoplifting, at 10.0% of total crimes, also exceeds the UK average by 40%, a pattern consistent with retail areas experiencing higher foot traffic during the holiday season. The seasonal context of December—dark evenings, empty homes over holidays, and the peak of Christmas shopping—may partly explain these trends. Anti-social behaviour falls 25% below the UK average at 0.7 per 1,000, suggesting that community efforts or police interventions during the festive period may have mitigated some conflicts. This mix of elevated and reduced categories illustrates the dynamic interplay between urban life, seasonal rhythms, and crime patterns in Cardiff, where targeted strategies could address specific vulnerabilities while capitalizing on opportunities for improvement.

December 2025 marked a significant decline in bicycle theft, with incidents falling 69.2% to 33 from 107 in November. This drop may reflect seasonal factors, as holidays reduce cycling activity and stores close earlier. Anti-social behaviour also fell by 33.7%, likely due to festive events drawing crowds to public spaces and reducing confrontations. Shoplifting decreased by 28.0%, possibly linked to increased police patrols during the Christmas shopping peak. However, public order offences remain 105% above the UK average at 0.9 per 1,000, suggesting persistent challenges in managing crowds in high-traffic areas. Violence and sexual offences, at 2.8 per 1,000, are 9% above the UK average, a statistic that underscores the need for targeted interventions in nightlife zones. These figures offer a nuanced view of Cardiff’s crime profile, where some categories decline sharply while others remain elevated.

December 2025 saw a 14.9% decrease in Cardiff’s overall crime rate compared to November 2025, falling from 9.4 to 8.0 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns, as holiday shopping periods often see reduced street-level crime due to increased police presence and community initiatives. On a daily basis, 99 crimes were reported over the month, a figure that translates to roughly one crime occurring for every 126 residents. This monthly exposure rate offers a tangible sense of risk for residents, though it remains a local metric without UK-wide comparisons. The drop from the previous month may also reflect the impact of festive events drawing attention away from certain areas. Population context shows that Cardiff’s 383,919 residents experienced a crime rate 14.3% above the UK average, highlighting persistent challenges in urban centres despite the monthly decline.