Swansea Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Swansea's crime rate in May 2023 stood at 8.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 1.2% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 36.1% of all crimes (733 incidents), with this category itself 4% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed at 18.7% (380 incidents), and public order offences contributed 10.1% (205 incidents), both significantly exceeding national benchmarks. This pattern of elevated violent and disorderly crimes may be influenced by Swansea's urban character and the seasonal transition into longer evenings, which often correlates with increased socialising and alcohol consumption in public spaces. The data also shows a stark contrast in property crime trends: shoplifting (8.0% of total crimes) was 22% above the UK average, while vehicle crime (4.2%) was 33% below. This divergence suggests that while retail areas may be experiencing heightened theft, vehicle-related crime remains relatively low, due to effective policing in car parks or community initiatives. The seasonal context of May—marked by bank holidays and extended daylight hours—likely plays a role in the distribution of crimes, with outdoor drinking and socialising contributing to the rise in public order and violent incidents. However, the absence of a significant increase in burglary (2.3% of total crimes) or other theft (5.4%) suggests that targeted interventions in high-risk areas may be mitigating certain types of property crime.

The most significant month-on-month increase occurred in theft from the person, which rose by 81.8% (11 → 20). This surge, coupled with a 64.7% increase in bicycle theft (17 → 28), suggests a shift in criminal activity patterns during May. Violence and sexual offences also saw a notable 14.9% rise, climbing from 638 to 733 incidents. These increases align with the seasonal context of longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising, which may contribute to higher rates of public order and violent crimes. Conversely, drugs-related offences fell by 30.4% (56 → 39), indicating a possible reduction in illicit activity. The area's performance on certain categories, such as robbery (100% below UK average), highlights areas where local strategies may be effectively deterring crime. For residents, the sharp rise in theft from the person underscores the importance of personal security measures in public spaces.

Swansea's crime rate in May 2023 rose to 8.1 per 1,000 residents, a 5.1% increase from April's 7.7 per 1,000. This brings the local rate 1.2% above the UK average, reflecting a slight uptick in overall crime activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 66 crimes per day, highlighting the persistent demand on local policing resources. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 124 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for Swansea's population of 251,304. While this rate remains relatively stable compared to previous months, the shift in crime distribution—particularly the rise in violence and sexual offences—suggests a need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while Swansea's rate is marginally higher than the UK average, the per capita impact remains proportionate to its urban character and demographic profile.