Rhondda Cynon Taf Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Rhondda Cynon Taf recorded 1,605 crimes in January 2026, equating to 6.6 crimes per 1,000 residents—a rate that precisely matches the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000. For a population of 242,844, this volume translates to one reported crime for every 151 residents over the course of the month, illustrating the direct impact of crime on local communities. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 46.3% of all incidents (743 cases), a figure that is 27% higher than the UK average of 2.4 per 1,000. Public order offences (159 cases) followed closely, with a 71% increase compared to the UK average of 0.4 per 1,000. These figures suggest that the area’s crime profile is heavily weighted towards interpersonal and community-level issues, potentially influenced by factors such as population density or socio-economic challenges. Seasonal context also plays a role: January, with its shorter days and post-holiday lull, typically sees a reduction in outdoor crimes. However, the persistence of high rates of violence and public order offences may indicate underlying issues that are not easily mitigated by seasonal shifts. Property-related crimes such as shoplifting (90 cases) and vehicle crime (79 cases) are both below UK averages, which could reflect the effectiveness of local initiatives in retail and transport security. The data also highlights a combination of crime types, with anti-social behaviour (151 cases) and burglary (39 cases) being 34% and 29% below national rates, respectively. These variations may be linked to the area’s geographic and demographic characteristics, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections. Overall, the crime profile in January 2026 presents a mixed picture, with some categories aligning closely with UK trends and others deviating significantly, offering both challenges and opportunities for targeted interventions.

January 2026 saw a dramatic 106.9% increase in 'other crime'—a category that includes non-specific incidents such as vandalism or unclassified acts—jumping from 29 to 60 cases. This surge, though not tied to a single category, may reflect heightened community tensions or underreported issues. Concurrently, vehicle crime rose by 38.6%, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as post-holiday vehicle movements or increased rural road use. In contrast, theft from the person fell sharply by 75%, from 8 to 2 incidents—a drop that could indicate improved policing in high-traffic areas or reduced opportunities for street-level theft. The crime mix also reveals stark disparities: violence and sexual offences remain 27% above the UK average, while anti-social behaviour and shoplifting are both below national levels. This divergence suggests that local interventions in public order and retail security may be yielding measurable results, even as other areas of the crime profile remain challenging.

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s crime rate rose by 4.4% month-on-month, climbing from 6.3 to 6.6 per 1,000 residents in January 2026. This increase, though modest, positions the area at the UK average for the first time in recent months. On a daily basis, the local authority recorded approximately 52 crimes per day—an average that underscores the persistent presence of criminal activity in the region. When scaled to the population of 242,844, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 151 residents. This figure, while consistent with broader UK trends, highlights the concentrated nature of incidents within specific communities. The shift in crime mix also reveals a notable trend: while property crimes (such as vehicle theft and shoplifting) have decreased compared to UK averages, violent and public order offences remain high. This balance may reflect the area’s socio-economic dynamics, particularly in urban centres where community tensions and transient populations can amplify certain types of crime.