Neath Port Talbot Crime Rate February 2023 | Monthly Statistics

February 2023 marked a continuation of Neath Port Talbot's below-average crime profile, with an overall rate of 5.3 crimes per 1,000 residents — 23.2% lower than the UK average of 6.9. This sustained performance aligns with the area's historical trend of relatively low crime levels, a pattern consistent with its mix of urban and industrial character. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, which made up 39.8% of all reported incidents, significantly below the UK average for this category (2.5 per 1,000 vs 2.1 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour followed at 20.6% of the total, though this rate was 13% higher than the UK average. The seasonal context of February — a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull — may partly explain the distribution of crime types. Violence and sexual offences, often linked to indoor settings or late-night activity, dominated the figures, while property crimes remained relatively low, with only 165 reported. This contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes typically hold a larger share of the total. The data suggests that local factors, such as the area's community engagement initiatives and police presence, may contribute to this lower rate. However, the prominence of anti-social behaviour and public order offences indicates ongoing challenges in managing community tensions and ensuring public spaces remain safe, particularly during colder months when indoor gatherings increase.

The breakdown of crime types reveals a stark contrast between local and national trends. Violence and sexual offences, which accounted for nearly 40% of all incidents, were 15% below the UK average, a figure that may reflect the effectiveness of local policing strategies in addressing domestic and interpersonal disputes. Conversely, anti-social behaviour and public order offences exceeded UK averages by 13% and 23% respectively, highlighting areas where community interventions could be strengthened. The exceptionally low rates of vehicle crime (78% below UK average) and other theft (43% below) suggest that local infrastructure, such as secure parking facilities or reduced retail footfall during winter, may be mitigating these risks. For residents, the most immediately relevant statistic is the dominance of violence and sexual offences, which account for over a third of all crimes. This underscores the need for targeted support services and community safety initiatives. The data also shows that less common crimes — such as theft from the person, bicycle theft, and robbery — were all 100% below the UK average, indicating that local security measures or demographic factors (such as lower tourism) may be playing a role. These findings illustrate an area where violent crime remains a concern but where property-related and public order issues are being managed more effectively than the national average.

In February 2023, Neath Port Talbot recorded 756 crimes over 28 days, averaging 27 crimes per day — a figure that, while local, provides context for residents assessing daily risk. On a monthly basis, this equated to one reported crime for every 189 residents, a rate that is both below the UK average and consistent with the area's historical performance. When scaled to the local population of 143,249, the data shows that the most common crime type — violence and sexual offences — occurs at a rate of 2.1 per 1,000, compared to the UK average of 2.5. This suggests that while the area faces challenges in addressing interpersonal violence, it is performing better than the national average in this category. The lower-than-average rates for property crimes, such as shoplifting (55% below UK average) and burglary (68% below), may reflect the area's economic profile, with fewer high-value retail outlets or residential properties vulnerable to theft. However, the higher-than-average rates of anti-social behaviour and public order offences indicate that local authorities may need to focus more on community cohesion initiatives. The monthly exposure metric — one crime per 189 residents — serves as a useful benchmark for residents, illustrating that while the area is not crime-free, its overall safety profile remains relatively strong compared to the UK as a whole.