Powys Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Powys continues to demonstrate a crime profile significantly below the UK average, with a rate of 5.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in February 2025 — 23.9% lower than the national average of 6.7. This marks a consistent trend for the rural district, where crime rates have historically remained lower than urban counterparts. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 47% of all reported incidents, followed by public order (9.2%) and criminal damage and arson (9.1%). These figures align with the area's character as a largely rural region with smaller towns and open countryside, where violent crime tends to cluster in more populated centres. The seasonal context of February — a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull — likely contributes to the lower overall crime rate compared to busier summer months. While violence remains the largest category, its rate (2.4 per 1,000) matches the UK average, suggesting local factors may balance out national trends. The lower prevalence of property crimes, particularly shoplifting and burglary, which are 68% and 26% below the UK average respectively, reflects the sparse retail and commercial presence in many parts of Powys. This data reinforces the district's position as a relatively safe area, though the persistence of violence and public order offences indicates targeted interventions may still be needed in specific locations.

February 2025 saw a notable 22.7% decrease in violent crimes, dropping from 415 to 321 incidents — the largest month-on-month decline in this category. This reduction, combined with a 34.6% drop in anti-social behaviour (from 78 to 51 cases), suggests potential success in community-focused policing efforts or seasonal factors reducing tensions. However, three specific categories showed significant increases: bicycle theft rose by 400% (from 1 to 5 cases), possession of weapons doubled (from 6 to 12), and robbery doubled (from 1 to 2). These spikes, though small in absolute numbers, warrant scrutiny, particularly as bicycle theft is 100% below the UK average, indicating possible underreporting or localized issues. The crime mix in Powys remains heavily skewed towards violent and public order offences, with property crimes accounting for just 27% of the total (183 cases). This contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes typically dominate. Anti-social behaviour is 59% below the UK average, a figure that may reflect the area's rural nature and lower population density, which can reduce opportunities for such incidents. Residents should be aware that while overall crime remains low, the rise in weapon possession and robbery, albeit from very low base numbers, highlights areas requiring further attention.

Powys' crime rate in February 2025 (5.1 per 1,000) represents a 17.3% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.1, continuing a downward trend that has persisted for several months. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 24 crimes per day — a figure that, while specific to Powys, provides a tangible sense of local crime frequency. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime for every 198 residents over the course of the month, a rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. The population context is critical: with 135,059 residents, even a modest increase in crime would have a noticeable impact on local communities. However, the overall low rate underscores the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies in a rural setting. The comparison to the UK average is particularly stark in certain categories: anti-social behaviour is 59% below the national average, and shoplifting is 68% lower, both of which align with the area's sparse commercial activity. Conversely, violence and sexual offences match the UK rate, indicating that these issues are not uniquely mitigated in Powys. For residents, the monthly exposure figure — one crime per 198 people — offers a clear benchmark for understanding local safety relative to the national picture.