Ceredigion Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Ceredigion's overall crime rate in May 2024 stood at 7.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 10.7% below the UK average of 8.4. This position as a relatively safer area compared to the national picture is notable, particularly when considering the seasonal context of longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 46% of total reported incidents, followed by public order offences (11.1%) and criminal damage and arson (10.5%). These patterns may partly explain by the area's character as a rural district with significant coastal and inland communities, where public spaces are frequently used during warmer months. The rate of violence and sexual offences, while lower than the UK average per capita, still exceeds it by 20%, suggesting a combination of local factors. Public order offences, which are 27% above the UK average, may reflect the increased foot traffic in tourist areas and the impact of bank holidays during May. Conversely, anti-social behaviour rates are 59% below the UK average, due to lower population density and community-focused policing efforts. These statistics illustrate a crime profile shaped by both geographic and seasonal influences, with the area's rural nature likely contributing to lower rates of property-related crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime, which are 3% and 79% below the UK average respectively.

The most striking change in May 2024 was the 24,900% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 1 incident to 250. This surge, though still below the UK average per capita, highlights a significant shift in crime dynamics. Shoplifting also saw a 100% increase, jumping from 0 to 23 incidents, a development that may reflect the opening of seasonal retail activity and increased footfall in local centres. Burglary rates similarly doubled from 0 to 19, potentially linked to the transition from spring to summer, when property owners may be more likely to leave homes unattended. Several categories showed marked differences from the UK average: violence and sexual offences (20% above), public order (27% above), and criminal damage (29% above) all exceeded national benchmarks, while anti-social behaviour (59% below) and other theft (31% below) were significantly lower. These variations suggest a crime mix that diverges from the national pattern, with community-specific factors likely playing a role. For residents, the sharp rise in violence and sexual offences may be a particular concern, with 250 incidents representing 46% of all reported crimes in the month.

Comparing May 2024 to April 2024, Ceredigion's crime rate surged by 1,235.7% from 0.6 to 7.5 per 1,000 residents, marking one of the most dramatic month-on-month changes in recent records. This increase translates to 18 crimes reported daily on average, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the pace of criminal activity in the area. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 134 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the impact on the local population. With a population of 72,599, this statistic highlights how crime distribution is scaled across the district. The previous month's rate of 0.6 per 1,000 was exceptionally low, potentially influenced by seasonal factors such as colder weather and shorter evenings. The stark contrast between April and May underscores the volatility of crime patterns in Ceredigion, with the sudden increase in May likely tied to the onset of warmer weather and the associated changes in human behaviour. This comparison also reveals the importance of considering both monthly and daily perspectives when assessing public safety, as the same crime rate can feel more or less significant depending on the timeframe examined. The area's population size further contextualises these figures, as a lower rate in a sparsely populated region may represent fewer absolute incidents than in a densely populated urban area with the same per capita rate.