Powys Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Powys, a largely rural area in Wales, maintained a crime rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents in August 2023, placing it 28.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This consistent gap from the national picture reflects the area's demographic and geographic characteristics, which include a dispersed population and limited urban centres. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 45.3% of all crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (15.1%) and public order offences (11.4%). These figures contrast with the UK averages for similar categories, where violence and sexual offences are slightly lower (2.6 vs 2.6 per 1,000) but public order offences are marginally higher (0.7 vs 0.6 per 1,000). The seasonal context of August—a peak holiday month—may partly explain the slight uptick in property crimes, though burglary rates remain low (0.2 per 1,000). The area's rural nature likely contributes to the absence of crimes typically concentrated in urban settings, such as vehicle crime or theft from the person, which are 80% and 100% below UK averages respectively. Despite the overall low crime rate, the prominence of violent crime underscores the need for targeted community initiatives, particularly in areas with transient populations or seasonal tourism. August's warm weather and increased foot traffic in rural villages may also influence patterns of anti-social behaviour, though the exact link remains speculative without further data.

August 2023 saw notable shifts in crime trends within Powys, with three categories showing significant changes compared to July. Drug-related offences surged by 61.1%, rising from 18 to 29 incidents, a spike that may reflect increased illicit activity during the summer months. Burglary rates climbed by 27.8%, from 18 to 23 crimes, potentially linked to the seasonal increase in empty homes during August holidays. Conversely, theft from the person plummeted by 80%, from five to one incident, a drop that could be attributed to heightened community awareness or reduced foot traffic in certain areas. The breakdown of crime types also revealed a marked contrast with the UK average: while public order offences in Powys were 17% above the national figure, shoplifting and vehicle crime were 67% and 80% below respectively. This divergence highlights the area's unique profile, where rural isolation and limited commercial hubs naturally suppress certain crime types. The rate of violence and sexual offences remained stable at 2.6 per 1,000—2% below the UK average—suggesting that targeted policing efforts in recent months may have had a lasting impact. Residents should be particularly mindful of the 61% increase in drug-related crimes, which, though still relatively low, represents a sharp departure from previous trends.

Powys' crime rate in August 2023 (5.8 per 1,000) represented a 4.7% increase from the previous month's rate of 5.6 per 1,000, a modest upward trend that does not significantly alter the area's long-term position relative to the UK average. On a daily basis, the 25 crimes reported per day in August would equate to roughly one incident for every 171 residents over the course of the month—a figure that, while not negligible, is far below the UK's average monthly exposure. This low rate is particularly striking when considering the 100% deficit in crimes such as bicycle theft and possession of weapons, which are virtually absent in Powys compared to the national landscape. The area's population of 135,059 means that even a small increase in crime, such as the 27.8% rise in burglary, translates to only 5 additional incidents—a manageable number in a region with limited urban density. For residents, the 1-in-171 monthly exposure figure provides context for everyday safety, though the slight increase in drug-related crimes warrants attention. The comparison to the UK average also underscores the effectiveness of local crime prevention strategies, which have consistently kept Powys' rates well below national benchmarks despite the challenges of managing rural communities with seasonal fluctuations in population.