Barry (Vale of Glamorgan) Crime Rate

Barry (Vale of Glamorgan) presents a dynamic crime profile with an overall rate of 100.0 per 1,000 people. While this is slightly above the UK average of 91.7, the town maintains a respectable safety score of 77/100. The crime trend is currently stable, having decreased by 3.6% over the last year. As the largest town in the Vale of Glamorgan, Barry's statistics are influenced by its significant retail presence, transport links, and popular tourist attractions like Barry Island. Most reported incidents are concentrated in high-traffic areas, and the residential safety score remains solid. Understanding the local patterns, particularly the property crime rate of 33.0 per 1,000, is essential for residents looking to maintain a secure environment in this vibrant coastal community.

In Barry, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 2,208 incidents, representing 37.1% of all recorded crime. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue, making up 12.7% of reports, followed closely by shoplifting at 11.9%. These figures highlight that while personal safety is a primary statistical concern, the commercial and public aspects of the town also face significant challenges.

Property crime in Barry is a notable factor for residents and businesses, with a combined property crime rate of 33.0 per 1,000 people. This includes 709 instances of shoplifting, 278 vehicle crimes, and 127 burglaries. Other theft (259) and criminal damage (506) also contribute heavily to the local landscape. For homeowners, the vehicle crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 is particularly relevant, suggesting that cars parked on streets or in driveways are frequent targets. While burglary represents a smaller percentage of total crime at 2.1%, the overall volume of property-related offences indicates that security remains a high priority for protecting homes and personal assets in this urban setting.

The crime trend in Barry is currently stable, with a year-over-year decrease of 3.6%. This indicates a consistent safety environment for residents. Monthly data from the period of December 2024 to November 2025 shows that the crime rate per 1,000 people fluctuated between a low of 7.4 in December and a peak of 9.3 in March.

Following the spring peak, the crime rate generally trended downwards, reaching 7.7 in September before a slight seasonal rise in the autumn months. The year concluded with a rate of 8.3 in November 2025. This pattern suggests that while Barry experiences some seasonal volatility—likely linked to increased activity in the town and coastal areas during warmer months—the overall volume of crime is not on an upward trajectory. For local residents, this stability is encouraging, as it suggests that community safety measures are effectively managing the challenges of a busy urban environment.

How To Keep Safe in Barry (Vale of Glamorgan)

The most prevalent crime type in Barry is violence and sexual offences, which often occur in public or high-traffic areas. To stay safe, it is important to remain aware of your surroundings, especially when navigating the town centre or transport hubs after dark.

When walking at night, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid shortcuts through less populated areas. If you are visiting Barry Island or the town's various nightlife spots, try to stay with friends and ensure you have a pre-planned way to get home. For those concerned about property safety, the town's 4.7 per 1,000 vehicle crime rate suggests that car security is vital. Always double-check that your vehicle is locked, remove all valuables from sight, and park in well-lit areas or secure garages whenever possible.

Additionally, with anti-social behaviour making up 12.7% of local crime, residents can benefit from joining local community safety groups. Keeping the exterior of your home well-maintained and using motion-sensor lighting can discourage loitering and opportunistic crime, contributing to a safer neighbourhood for everyone.

Crime in Barry follows distinct temporal patterns. The morning and afternoon hours are heavily influenced by the town's retail and commercial activity, with theft-related offences accounting for 36% to 42% of crimes during these periods. This is largely driven by shoplifting in the town centre. As the day transitions into evening, there is a shift toward 'other' crime types, which includes anti-social behaviour, often associated with social gathering spots.

The night-time period (12am to 6am) presents a different risk profile, with vehicle crime peaking at 44% of all recorded incidents. This suggests that parked cars are most vulnerable during the early hours of the morning when streets are quietest. Burglary also remains a steady threat throughout the day and night, with a slight peak in the afternoon (13%) when properties are often left empty by residents at work. Understanding these cycles allows residents to take targeted precautions, such as ensuring vehicles are secured overnight.

In the local context, Barry serves as the primary urban centre, which is reflected in its crime rate of 100.0 per 1,000. This is significantly higher than neighbouring Dinas Powis (45.7) and Rhoose (37.2), both of which are more residential and suburban in nature. Other nearby areas such as Wenvoe and St Nicholas show reported rates of 0.0 per 1,000, highlighting the contrast between Barry's busy town environment and the surrounding rural villages. For those considering the region, Barry offers the most amenities and transport links, but this comes with the higher crime activity typical of a major Welsh town, whereas the nearby settlements offer a much quieter, lower-density alternative.

Home security in Barry needs to address a property crime rate of 33.0 per 1,000 people, where vehicle crime and shoplifting are more prevalent than in surrounding villages. For homeowners, the limitation of traditional security is clear: doorbell cameras and standard CCTV are reactive. They capture a recording of a crime that has already happened, which often provides little comfort once your property has been violated.

A proactive approach, such as that offered by scOS, changes the dynamic of home protection. By using AI to monitor your property's perimeter in real-time, scOS can identify a potential intruder long before they reach your front door. The system doesn't just record; it intervenes. By autonomously activating deterrents like integrated lighting or speakers, it removes the anonymity that criminals rely on. In an urban setting like Barry, where most burglars or vehicle thieves look for an easy, 60-second opportunity, the visible presence of a professional-grade, intelligent system like scOS is often enough to make them move on to a less protected target. Preventing the crime is always superior to recording it.