Brecon Crime Rate November 2025 | Monthly Statistics

November 2025 marked an unexpected surge in Brecon's crime profile, with criminal damage and arson emerging as the most striking anomaly. The area's overall crime rate of 8.0 per 1,000 residents—9.6% above the UK average—was driven by a 150% increase in criminal damage and arson cases, which now stand at 1.5 per 1,000. This figure, 183% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000, suggests a unique challenge for Brecon, a built-up area within the rural Powys region. While violence and sexual offences remained the most common category (17 incidents, 32.7% of total), the disproportionate rise in property-related crimes and public order issues highlights a shift in local criminal activity. Seasonal factors likely played a role: Bonfire Night, with its associated fireworks and gatherings, may have contributed to the 166.7% increase in public order offences, while the timing of Black Friday shopping could have influenced shoplifting patterns (which fell by 50% to 1 incident). However, the UK's average for shoplifting is 0.6 per 1,000, meaning Brecon's rate is still 68% below that benchmark. The area's rural-urban duality—home to both historic sites and a small town centre—may explain the persistence of certain crime types, such as anti-social behaviour (which fell by 57.1% to 3 incidents) and the notable absence of vehicle crime, which aligns with the UK average. As November's dark evenings and seasonal events come to a close, the data underscores the need for continued vigilance in addressing property crime and public order challenges, while also recognising the area's relatively low rates in categories like theft from the person.

November 2025 saw stark shifts in crime patterns, with public order offences jumping 166.7% to 8 incidents, the highest monthly total since data collection began. This spike, coupled with a 150% increase in criminal damage and arson cases, contrasts sharply with a 57.1% drop in anti-social behaviour reports. The category of 'criminal damage and arson'—now at 1.5 per 1,000—exceeds the UK average by 183%, a discrepancy that may reflect Brecon's historic and architectural features, which could attract both preservation-focused vandals and arsonists. Meanwhile, shoplifting fell by 50% to 1 incident, linked to the timing of Black Friday sales, which typically draw more shoppers to urban centres. The most surprising finding, however, is the 100% increase in 'other crime' reports, a category that includes unclassified offences and may indicate underreporting or shifting criminal activity. These changes highlight the need for targeted interventions in public order and property crime prevention, particularly as the area prepares for seasonal events like Bonfire Night.

Brecon's crime rate in November 2025 stood at 8.0 per 1,000 residents, marking a 13.3% decrease from the previous month's 9.2 per 1,000. This decline suggests a stabilisation in local crime trends after a period of higher activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day over the 30-day period, translating to one reported crime for roughly every 125 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure provides a tangible sense of scale for residents, highlighting that the likelihood of experiencing a crime is relatively low compared to national averages. The population-scaled perspective is particularly useful for contextualising safety: with 6,505 residents, the area's crime rate places it above the UK average but within a range consistent with other rural and semi-rural areas facing similar challenges in balancing community needs with public safety. The drop from the previous month may reflect seasonal factors, such as the winding down of Black Friday shopping activity, though local events like Bonfire Night could have contributed to fluctuations in specific crime types.