Neath Port Talbot Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In July 2024, Neath Port Talbot recorded a crime rate of 6.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 20.2% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. The local crime profile was dominated by violent crimes, which accounted for 39.3% of all reported incidents—more than double the share of property crimes, which made up 7.8% of the total. This imbalance between violent and property crime suggests a different dynamic at play compared to other areas, where property crime often outpaces violence. The summer season's influence is evident in the rise of shoplifting and vehicle crime, both of which saw sharp increases, though these trends may be tempered by the area's seasonal rhythms, including school holidays and tourism activity. Violent crimes, while lower than the UK average, remained the most frequent category, with violence and sexual offences making up the largest single share of reported incidents. This pattern may reflect the area's characteristics as a mixed urban-industrial district, where public spaces and transport hubs create environments conducive to certain types of crime. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.9 per 1,000, compared to Neath Port Talbot's 2.7 per 1,000—a 5% deficit that could be attributed to local policing strategies or demographic factors. However, the area's public order offences were 72% above the UK average, a stark contrast that may be linked to the summer's festival season and the associated increase in transient populations. This suggests that while overall crime rates are lower than the national average, the types of crime that dominate are distinct, with public disorder and violence carrying particular weight in shaping the local crime picture.

July 2024 saw a significant 74.4% rise in shoplifting, jumping from 43 to 75 incidents. This surge, coupled with a 53.8% increase in vehicle crime, suggests a shift in criminal activity patterns during the summer months. Meanwhile, violent crimes—accounting for 39.3% of total reported incidents—remained the dominant category, a balance that contrasts with the UK average where violence makes up 2.9 per 1,000 compared to Neath Port Talbot's 2.7 per 1,000. The sharp 100% increase in robbery, from zero to two incidents, highlights an unusual spike in this category, though the small sample size means this may reflect isolated events rather than a trend. Public order offences, at 1.1 per 1,000, were 72% above the UK average, a statistic that may be linked to the area's summer festivals and outdoor events, which often draw larger crowds and increase opportunities for disorderly conduct.

Neath Port Talbot's crime rate in July 2024 fell to 6.7 per 1,000 residents, a 5.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.1. This decline aligns with the summer season's typical patterns, where some crime types see reduced activity as schools close and populations shift. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 31 crimes per day in July, a figure that contextualises the local burden of crime within a 31-day period. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 149 residents, a monthly exposure rate that reflects the area's population of 143,249. This metric provides a tangible sense of how frequently crime intersects with daily life, though it does not account for variations in risk across different neighbourhoods or demographics. The population-scaled perspective underscores that while the overall rate remains below the UK average, the distribution of crime types within the area carries distinct implications for community safety.