Pembrokeshire Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

September 2023 saw Pembrokeshire maintain a crime rate significantly below the UK average, with 6.6 crimes per 1,000 residents compared to the national figure of 8.0. This 17.5% deficit reflects a consistent pattern of lower-than-average criminal activity in the area, though the nature of offences differs from typical UK profiles. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 44.5% of all recorded incidents—6% above the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour followed at 17.1%, while criminal damage and arson made up 9.4%, matching the UK rate. The seasonal context of September, marked by the return of students to local universities and the transition from summer to autumn, likely contributes to the prominence of violent crimes. With schools reopening and freshers' week underway, the increased presence of young people in town centres may explain the higher proportion of violence-related incidents compared to other regions. Conversely, the area's lower rates of theft from the person and vehicle crime—both 100% below UK averages—suggest a relatively secure environment for personal belongings, possibly due to Pembrokeshire's rural character and lower population density. The overall crime rate remains the lowest in the UK for this period, highlighting a long-term trend of effective policing and community engagement strategies in the region.

September 2023 marked a notable shift in Pembrokeshire's crime profile, with robbery incidents surging by 100% compared to August. This increase—from zero to one reported incident—while small in absolute terms, raises questions about targeted vulnerabilities in the area. Meanwhile, theft from the person fell sharply by 75% (from 12 to 3), potentially reflecting heightened awareness among residents during the back-to-school period or improved policing in high-traffic areas. The violent crime category, which constitutes 44.5% of all reported incidents, remains 6% above the UK average, with violence and sexual offences dominating at 2.9 per 1,000 residents. This contrast with the UK's 2.7 per 1,000 rate for the same category suggests local factors, such as the presence of university campuses and their associated social environments, may play a role. Anti-social behaviour, however, is 18% below the UK average at 1.1 per 1,000, indicating effective community management of nuisance crimes. Shoplifting rates in Pembrokeshire are 46% below the UK average, a figure that may be influenced by the area's coastal tourism economy, where retail businesses are likely to have robust security measures in place. The month-on-month decrease in vehicle crime (71.4%) and other theft (17%) further underscores a trend of declining property-related offences, which could be linked to the seasonal slowdown in summer tourism and reduced foot traffic in commercial zones.

Pembrokeshire's crime rate in September 2023 (6.6 per 1,000 residents) represented a 4.5% decline from the previous month's figure of 6.9, continuing a downward trajectory that has defined the area's security profile for several years. On a daily basis, the local average equates to roughly 28 crimes per day, a figure that remains well below the UK's typical daily crime counts in similar-sized regions. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure of one crime per 152 residents highlights the relative safety of Pembrokeshire compared to the UK average, where residents face a higher risk of encountering crime. This 17.5% deficit in the overall crime rate is particularly striking given the area's status as a tourist destination, where higher foot traffic typically correlates with increased theft and public order offences. The combination of a low crime rate and a high proportion of violent crimes suggests a unique balance between effective policing and the social dynamics of a region with both rural and urban elements. For residents, the 1-in-152 monthly exposure rate translates to a tangible sense of security, though the 6% above-average rate for violence and sexual offences indicates areas for targeted intervention. The contrast between Pembrokeshire's performance and the UK average underscores the importance of local context in shaping crime statistics, with factors such as community engagement, policing strategies, and the area's geographic and demographic characteristics all playing a role in maintaining this lower-than-national crime profile.