Caernarfon Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 10,116, Caernarfon recorded 142 crimes in August 2023, a rate of 14.0 per 1,000 residents—72.8% above the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This stark divergence from national trends highlights the area’s unique challenges, particularly in violent crime, which accounted for 44.4% of all incidents. Violence and sexual offences, at 63 cases, dominated the crime picture, significantly exceeding the UK average by 135%. Anti-social behaviour followed closely with 38 incidents, 164% above the UK rate, while criminal damage and arson added 12 cases, 90% above the national figure. The seasonal context of August—a peak holiday month—likely contributes to these patterns, with increased tourism potentially straining local resources and leaving properties unoccupied, heightening burglary risks. However, the data also reveals uneven trends: shoplifting dropped sharply by 56.3%, possibly due to targeted retail security efforts or reduced foot traffic during holidays, while theft from the person rose by 100%, indicating vulnerabilities in public spaces. The area’s built-up nature, with a mix of residential and commercial zones, may amplify anti-social behaviour and violent incidents in densely populated areas. Despite the overall high rate, the month-on-month decline of 4.7% from July’s 14.7 per 1,000 suggests some mitigating factors, though the scale of violent crime remains a pressing concern. This snapshot underscores the need for tailored strategies addressing both the immediate spikes in violent crime and the underlying social dynamics shaping Caernarfon’s crime profile.

August 2023 marked a sharp 70.3% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 37 to 63 incidents. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in theft from the person (from 0 to 1), points to heightened vulnerability in public spaces or during holiday-related activity. Meanwhile, shoplifting fell by 56.3% (from 16 to 7), possibly reflecting seasonal retail patterns or increased security measures. Anti-social behaviour remained high, with 38 incidents—164% above the UK average. Other theft and vehicle crime saw decreases, with other theft dropping by 50% and vehicle crime by 39%, though these categories still lag behind the UK average for vehicle crime. The breakdown shows a stark imbalance, with violent crime dominating at 44.4% of total incidents, compared to property crimes at just 19.7% (28 out of 142). For residents, the most immediate concern is the sharp rise in violence, which may reflect increased social interactions during the summer months or unaddressed tensions in local communities.

August 2023 saw a 4.7% decrease in Caernarfon’s crime rate compared to the previous month, falling from 14.7 to 14.0 per 1,000 residents. This reduction, though modest, suggests some stabilisation in local crime patterns following a peak in July. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately five reported crimes each day, a figure that reflects the density of incidents in a relatively small built-up area. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 71 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the frequency of incidents in a community of 10,116 people. When scaled to the local population, the 14.0 per 1,000 rate translates to a significant burden compared to the UK average, but the month-on-month decline may indicate the effectiveness of targeted interventions or seasonal factors reducing crime during August. The population context also highlights the concentration of incidents in a compact area, where proximity to public spaces and community hubs could influence crime visibility and reporting rates.