Swansea Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a city of 251,304 residents, Swansea's 1,802 reported crimes in September 2024 equate to 7.2 crimes per 1,000 people — 6.5% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This marks the lowest recorded rate for Swansea since March 2023, reflecting a broader trend of declining violent crime in Wales. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences (35.1% of total crimes), a figure 5% below the UK average for this category. Shoplifting (12.3% of total crimes) stood out as a notable concern, with rates 32% above the UK average. This aligns with seasonal patterns typical of Swansea's coastal economy, where high streets and tourist areas see increased foot traffic during the back-to-school period and university freshers' week. Anti-social behaviour (11.6% of total crimes) also showed a 32% deficit compared to the UK average, possibly linked to local initiatives targeting community engagement in the area. The balance between property and violent crimes remained skewed toward violence, with 35.1% of crimes falling into this category compared to 24.5% for property crimes. This distribution is consistent with Swansea's status as a major urban centre with a significant student population, where interpersonal conflicts and alcohol-related incidents often dominate crime statistics. The overall decline in violent crime compared to the UK average suggests effective policing strategies or community interventions may be contributing to this trend, though further analysis would be required to confirm causality.

September 2024 saw significant fluctuations in Swansea's crime profile. Drug-related offences surged by 46.7% compared to August, rising from 45 to 66 incidents — a sharp increase that may reflect heightened activity around university campuses during freshers' week. Conversely, robbery incidents fell by 37.5% (from 8 to 5), potentially linked to improved lighting and security measures in high-risk areas such as the city centre. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 30.1% (from 299 to 209), a drop that could indicate the effectiveness of recent community policing initiatives. Public order offences declined by 23.3% (from 245 to 188), though this category still remained 43% above the UK average. Shoplifting rates, meanwhile, continued to outpace national trends, with 221 incidents recorded — 32% higher than the UK average of 0.7 per 1,000. This discrepancy may be attributed to Swansea's retail sector, which includes several large shopping centres that attract both local and tourist clientele. Vehicle crime increased by 14.1% (from 78 to 89), linked to the start of the academic year and increased car usage in the area. Residents may find the 32% deficit in burglary rates (0.1 per 1,000) compared to the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000 particularly reassuring, suggesting that local property security measures are having a measurable impact.

Swansea's September 2024 crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents represents an 8.8% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.9 per 1,000. This decline, while modest, suggests a continued downward trajectory for the city's overall crime statistics. On a daily basis, Swansea experienced an average of 60 crimes per day in September — a figure that, while locally relevant, does not include a UK-wide daily comparison as no such data exists for the area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 139 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average for most comparable urban centres. This statistic provides a tangible perspective for residents, illustrating that the likelihood of experiencing a crime in Swansea remains relatively low compared to other cities of similar size. The population-scaled context reveals that Swansea's crime rate is 6.5% below the UK average, a margin that, while small, is consistent with the city's broader trend of declining violent crime. This comparison underscores the effectiveness of local policing strategies in maintaining public safety, particularly in light of the seasonal challenges posed by the transition from summer to autumn. The 32% deficit in anti-social behaviour rates compared to the UK average further highlights Swansea's relative success in managing community disorder, a factor that may be attributed to targeted interventions in key problem areas.