Gwynedd Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

October 2024 saw Gwynedd's crime rate climb to 8.2 per 1,000 residents, 1.2% above the UK average of 8.1. This marked the first month in 2024 where violence and sexual offences (437 cases) overtook anti-social behaviour (179 cases) as the most prevalent crime type, a shift from earlier in the year. The sharp rise in violence—3.6 per 1,000 residents, 35% above the UK average—suggests pressures in the area's social fabric may be intensifying. Anti-social behaviour (1.5 per 1,000) and criminal damage (0.7 per 1,000) also remained significantly above UK averages, consistent with Gwynedd's mix of rural and coastal communities where disputes over land use and seasonal tourism can exacerbate tensions. Seasonal factors likely contributed to the spike in violence and anti-social behaviour: shorter daylight hours from the clocks going back and Halloween festivities may have increased opportunities for alcohol-fuelled incidents. While shoplifting and vehicle crime were below UK averages, the dominance of violent crime contrasts with Gwynedd's typically low property crime rates, which are 70% below the national average for burglary and 57% below for vehicle crime. This pattern aligns with the area's geography, where rural isolation and limited commercial centres reduce opportunities for theft but leave communities more vulnerable to interpersonal conflict. The data raises questions about whether targeted interventions in high-risk areas could mitigate the upward trend in violence.

October 2024 brought stark contrasts in crime trends for Gwynedd. Robbery cases surged by 200%, jumping from one to three incidents, a sudden shift that may reflect heightened vulnerability in specific locations such as isolated roads or poorly lit public spaces. Bicycle theft also doubled, rising from two to four cases, potentially linked to increased cycling during darker evenings or unsecured bike storage in tourist areas. These increases stand in stark contrast to declines in other categories: theft from the person fell by 71.4% (from seven to two cases), due to improved public awareness campaigns or increased use of security measures. Burglary dropped by 51.7% (from 29 to 14 cases), a decline consistent with Gwynedd's typically low property crime rates. Gwynedd's violence and sexual offences rate (3.6 per 1,000) is 35% above the UK average, a disparity that may be partly explained by the area's concentration of rural communities where limited access to support services could hinder early intervention. Meanwhile, shoplifting (0.6 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) remain below UK averages, highlighting Gwynedd's unique profile where violent crime dominates over property crime—a pattern more common in urban centres than in rural areas.

Gwynedd's crime rate in October 2024 (8.2 per 1,000) represents a 5.1% increase from September's 7.8 per 1,000, marking the third consecutive monthly rise. This translates to 32 crimes reported per day on average—a figure that, while modest compared to major urban centres, reflects the area's population density and geographic spread. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 122 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is comparable to other rural areas but lower than the UK average. The shift in crime composition from September to October is particularly striking: violent crime now accounts for 44.2% of all incidents, up from 39% in September, while property crime (25.6%) has dropped slightly. This change suggests a seasonal realignment in criminal activity, with the clocks going back and Halloween likely contributing to increased alcohol consumption and social gatherings that heighten risks of violence. The daily crime figure of 32 incidents provides context for residents: in any given day, a Gwynedd resident has a 1-in-3,775 chance of being directly involved in a crime. While this is lower than the UK average of 1-in-3,500, the concentration of violent crime in specific areas may create pockets of higher risk, particularly in coastal towns where seasonal tourism overlaps with local populations.