Aberystwyth Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Aberystwyth in January 2024 reveals a strikingly low overall crime rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 85.1% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This stark contrast to national trends is particularly evident in the distribution of crime types. Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime mix, accounting for 66.7% of all reported crimes, a figure that is 73% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour follows at 22.2%, with the local rate 80% below the UK average, while drug-related crimes make up 11.1% of the total, 52% below the national rate. This pattern suggests a community where interpersonal conflicts and public disorder are more prominent than property crimes, which is consistent with Aberystwyth's character as a coastal university town with a mix of academic and tourist activity. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail footfall—may contribute to lower levels of property crime, though the high proportion of violent offences could reflect the area's demographic composition, including a significant student population. The low overall crime rate, combined with the dominance of violent offences, indicates a unique balance of factors influencing local safety, from the transient nature of student communities to the presence of coastal tourism during peak seasons.

The month-on-month changes in January 2024 reveal significant declines across all major crime categories. Violence and sexual offences fell by 82.9% compared to 70 incidents in the previous month, a drop that may be linked to the seasonal transition following the Christmas and New Year holidays, when temporary spikes in alcohol-related incidents often occur. Anti-social behaviour also saw a sharp decline of 73.3%, from 15 to 4 incidents, a reduction that could reflect the closure of certain nightlife venues during the winter break or reduced foot traffic in the town centre. Drug-related crimes decreased by 71.4%, from 7 to 2 incidents, though this category remains well below the UK average. The crime mix in Aberystwyth contrasts sharply with the UK profile, where property crimes typically dominate. Locals may find the low incidence of burglary and vehicle crime particularly notable, as the area’s rural character and limited commercial density likely reduce opportunities for such offences. However, the high proportion of violent crimes—particularly sexual offences—suggests a need for targeted community engagement initiatives. The drop in anti-social behaviour is especially relevant for residents concerned about public disorder, offering a tangible indicator of improved local safety in this category.

Aberystwyth’s January 2024 crime rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents represents a dramatic decline from the previous month’s rate of 8.2 per 1,000, a reduction of 86.7%. This sharp drop underscores the volatility of crime trends in the area, particularly during seasonal transitions. On a daily basis, the local rate translates to approximately one crime reported per day over the 31-day period, a figure that appears modest when considering the town’s population of 16,473 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 915 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. When viewed through a population-scaled lens, these figures suggest a relatively safe environment, though the high proportion of violent offences in Aberystwyth highlights a different safety dynamic compared to other areas. The contrast with the UK average is most pronounced in anti-social behaviour, where the local rate is 80% below the national figure. This disparity may reflect Aberystwyth’s smaller population and the influence of its university setting, which can foster a more tightly knit community with potentially lower rates of disruptive public behaviour. However, the absence of data on UK daily crime exposure means these comparisons remain context-specific, emphasizing the importance of localized interpretation rather than broad generalizations.