Pontardawe Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile in Pontardawe during February 2024 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property crimes, with violent incidents dominating the landscape. Of the 38 total crimes recorded, 18 (47.4%) were violence and sexual offences, significantly exceeding the UK average for this category (2.5 per 1,000 vs 3.1 per 1,000). This proportion suggests a focus on interpersonal conflicts or domestic issues, potentially linked to the area’s demographic makeup and social dynamics. Anti-social behaviour (15.8% of total crimes) and shoplifting (10.5%) follow as the next most common categories, with the latter showing a 30% surplus over the UK average. Property crimes overall remain below the UK rate, with vehicle crime and other theft categories recording deficits of 55% and 64% respectively. This may reflect the area’s built-up nature within Neath Port Talbot, where higher foot traffic and community engagement could deter vehicle-related offences. Seasonally, February as a winter month with low outdoor activity aligns with the relatively modest crime rate, though the sharp rise in violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average suggests local factors such as social isolation or targeted interventions may be at play. The data underscores a need for targeted approaches to address interpersonal violence while leveraging existing deterrents for property crimes.

February 2024 saw significant month-on-month shifts in crime patterns, with three categories experiencing 100% increases: criminal damage and arson (from 0 to 3), possession of weapons (from 0 to 1), and shoplifting (from 0 to 4). These jumps, though starting from zero, indicate emerging concerns that could warrant closer attention. Meanwhile, other theft and public order offences decreased by 50% and 25% respectively, possibly reflecting temporary changes in policing priorities or community initiatives. The violent crime category’s 24% surplus over the UK average (3.1 vs 2.5 per 1,000) contrasts sharply with the 55% deficit in vehicle crime (0.2 vs 0.4 per 1,000), highlighting a marked divergence from national trends. For residents, the 100% rise in shoplifting may signal heightened retail activity during pre-spring planning, though the absence of a corresponding increase in other property crimes remains noteworthy. The sharp jump in possession of weapons, while statistically significant, requires contextual understanding—whether linked to specific events or broader patterns. These figures demonstrate the value of granular data in identifying local anomalies that may not align with broader regional trends.

Pontardawe’s crime rate in February 2024 (6.6 per 1,000) marked a 22.7% increase from the previous month’s 5.4 per 1,000, though it remains 7% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 152 residents, a figure that contextualises the impact of crime on the local population. Daily, the area experienced approximately 1.3 crimes per day (38 total over 29 days), a rate that, while modest, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents within a built-up area. This monthly exposure rate—1-in-152 residents—provides a tangible sense of risk for residents, particularly when compared to the previous month’s rate. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the overall rate is lower than the UK average, the rise in violent crimes and specific property offences suggests targeted vulnerabilities. The 22.7% increase from January to February may partly reflect seasonal transitions, with winter months often correlating with indoor social dynamics that could amplify interpersonal conflicts. However, the absence of a similar rise in other crime categories indicates that the increase is not uniform, pointing to specific factors influencing the current month’s data.