Porth Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 presented a complex picture for Porth's crime profile, with several categories showing troubling increases that residents should be aware of. The overall crime rate of 8.6 per 1,000 residents placed the area 21.1% above the UK average, a significant deviation that demands closer scrutiny. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 51.4% of all reported incidents. This category alone was 72% above the UK average, a stark contrast to the national benchmark of 2.6 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour followed at 17.1%, also 60% above the UK average, suggesting persistent issues with community disorder. The seasonal context of December—characterised by dark evenings, empty homes over the holidays, and the peak of Christmas shopping—likely contributed to these trends. Retail premises may have faced increased shoplifting risks.4 per 1,000 was 30% below the UK average. This anomaly could reflect Porth's smaller size or specific retail dynamics. However, the sharp rise in 'other crime' and weapon possession highlights areas requiring urgent attention. These increases may be linked to the area's characteristics, such as its proximity to transport hubs or transient populations, though further analysis is needed to confirm such connections. The combination of above-average violent crime and below-average property crime illustrates a community grappling with social challenges that extend beyond traditional economic factors.

December 2024 saw a sharp 150% increase in 'other crime' incidents, rising from 2 to 5. This category, which includes unclassified or less common offences, may reflect underreported or evolving criminal patterns. Concurrently, possession of weapons surged by 100%, with incidents doubling from 1 to 2. This rise is particularly concerning given the UK average for this category is 0.1 per 1,000, meaning Porth's rate is 233% above the national benchmark. Meanwhile, shoplifting increased by 66.7%, climbing from 3 to 5 incidents. This aligns with seasonal trends, as Christmas shopping peaks and retail premises face heightened risks. In contrast, public order offences dropped by 69.2%, likely due to fewer large gatherings during the festive period. Drug-related incidents also fell by 33.3%, though this decrease must be viewed cautiously, as it may reflect underreporting or temporary shifts in criminal activity rather than a lasting trend.

Porth's crime rate in December 2024 remained stable compared to November, with a slight 1.8% decrease from 8.8 to 8.6 per 1,000 residents. This narrow decline suggests no significant shift in overall crime trends, though the local rate remains higher than the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately four crimes per day, a figure that underscores the persistent presence of criminal activity in Porth. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 116 residents, a monthly exposure rate that highlights the frequency of incidents within the community. This statistic, when contextualised against Porth's population of 12,855, illustrates that residents are not immune to crime, even if the rate does not reflect a dramatic spike. The stability in the crime rate contrasts with the sharp increases in specific categories, which will be explored in the highlights section.