Cardiff Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

September 2025 marked an unexpected surge in bicycle theft in Cardiff, with the rate standing at 0.2 per 1,000 residents—186% above the UK average. This stark deviation from typical patterns, which usually see Cardiff's crime profile shaped by retail theft and violence, raises questions about local factors influencing this specific category. The overall crime rate for the city remained at 8.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 13.5% above the UK average, a position maintained despite an 8.7% monthly decline from August. Violence and sexual offences (30.4% of all crimes) and shoplifting (14.0%) continued to dominate the crime profile, consistent with Cardiff's status as a major urban centre with a large student population. The seasonal context of September—back to school, university freshers, and shorter evenings—likely contributed to the persistence of violent crime, while the unexpected bicycle theft spike may reflect unmet demand for cycle parking infrastructure in high-traffic areas. Anti-social behaviour fell by 22.9% month-on-month, possibly due to the return of students to structured routines, though this decline was offset by increases in vehicle crime and burglary. The city's crime picture remains distinct from the UK average, with property crime now slightly outpacing violent crime for the first time this year, a shift that may reflect changing patterns in retail activity and security measures.

September 2025 witnessed a 12.4% rise in vehicle crime, increasing from 249 to 280 incidents, likely linked to increased car usage during the school term. Burglary also rose by 13.4%, from 97 to 110, potentially reflecting seasonal changes in household security practices. Conversely, other theft fell by 30%, and anti-social behaviour dropped by 22.9%, possibly due to the return of students to academic routines. Bicycle theft stood out as the most striking anomaly, with a rate 186% above the UK average, suggesting unmet demand for cycle security measures in the city. The breakdown shows that property crimes (1360) now account for 42% of all reported incidents, slightly edging out violent crimes (984) for the first time this year. These shifts may partly explain why Cardiff's overall rate remains 13.5% above the UK average despite the monthly decline.

Cardiff's crime rate in September 2025 fell by 8.7% compared to August 2025, declining from 9.2 to 8.4 per 1,000 residents. This monthly drop aligns with seasonal patterns as university term starts and fewer tourists occupy the city centre. On a daily basis, 108 crimes were reported across the month, translating to roughly one crime for every 119 residents over the 30-day period. While this monthly exposure figure remains consistent with prior months, it highlights the persistent presence of crime in densely populated areas. The population context shows that 383,919 residents collectively face these risks, with no single demographic group dominating the statistics. This rate, though above the UK average, reflects a combination of local factors including retail activity and student populations, which may partly explain the elevated levels compared to other UK regions.