Powys Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 135,059, Powys recorded 325 crimes in May 2023, translating to a crime rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents—70% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This places Powys among the safest areas in the UK, with crime levels significantly lower than the national benchmark. The most common crimes were anti-social behaviour (41.5% of all incidents), followed by violence and sexual offences (30.2%) and public order offences (8.3%). These figures align with the area's rural character, where community cohesion and lower population density may contribute to reduced rates of violent crime and property-related incidents. May, with its longer evenings and bank holidays, likely saw increased socialising in local communities, which may have influenced the higher proportion of anti-social behaviour compared to other months. However, the overall low crime rate suggests a stable environment where public safety initiatives and community engagement efforts may be effective in maintaining order. The rate of violence and sexual offences in Powys was 75% below the UK average, indicating a strong local focus on preventing such crimes. The low incidence of property crimes, including shoplifting and vehicle crime, further reinforces the area's safety profile, with these categories all recorded at or below 1 per 1,000 residents.

May 2023 saw a 33.7% increase in anti-social behaviour, with 135 incidents reported—accounting for 41.5% of all crimes in the area. This rise may be linked to the extended evenings and bank holidays typical of the month, which could have led to more outdoor socialising and associated disruptions. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 91.7%, dropping from 12 to just 1 incident. This steep decline might reflect the seasonal pattern of reduced vehicle-related activity during May, as well as the rural nature of Powys, where fewer vehicles are on the roads compared to urban centres. Bicycle theft also fell sharply by 80%, from 5 to 1, due to warmer weather encouraging outdoor activities that reduce the likelihood of bikes being left unattended. All major crime categories in Powys were significantly below UK averages, with anti-social behaviour 25% lower than the national rate and violence and sexual offences 75% below. This consistent underperformance relative to the UK suggests that local factors—such as strong community policing, lower population density, or effective local initiatives—may be contributing to the area's safer profile. A resident would find the 75% reduction in violence and sexual offences particularly noteworthy, as it highlights the effectiveness of local crime prevention strategies in addressing serious offences.

Compared to April 2023, when the crime rate stood at 6.2 per 1,000 residents, May 2023 saw a 61.4% reduction, bringing the rate down to 2.4 per 1,000. This substantial decline indicates a significant shift in the local crime profile over the past month. On a daily basis, Powys experienced roughly 10 crimes per day in May, a figure that, while low, underscores the ongoing efforts to maintain public safety in the area. When viewed through the lens of population, the monthly exposure rate of 1 crime for every 416 residents highlights the rarity of criminal incidents in this rural district. For someone living in Powys, this means that the likelihood of being directly affected by crime is relatively low, with the majority of residents experiencing no criminal activity at all during the month. The combination of a lower crime rate and a stable population suggests that the area's infrastructure, community networks, and policing strategies are effectively managing crime prevention, even as seasonal factors influence specific types of incidents. The stark contrast between Powys's crime rate and the UK average—where the area's rate is 70% lower—emphasises the unique characteristics of this rural region, which may include a stronger sense of community, fewer economic pressures, or more effective local governance in crime prevention.