Vale of Glamorgan Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime profile in the Vale of Glamorgan for December 2023, accounting for nearly 40% of all reported crimes. At 5.9 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area’s overall crime rate is 18.1% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, a consistent trend that reflects broader patterns of lower violence and property crime in this coastal and rural district. The prominence of violent crime—307 incidents—contrasts with the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 for this category, marking a 12% deficit in the Vale of Glamorgan. Seasonal factors likely contribute to this dynamic: December’s short evenings, festive shopping, and holiday-related absences may amplify tensions in local communities. While property crime remains a concern (326 incidents), the rate is significantly below the UK average for shoplifting, which surged to 1.0 per 1,000 compared to the UK’s 0.5 per 1,000. This anomaly suggests a unique local context, possibly tied to retail activity or policing efforts in high-traffic areas. The data also reveals a marked absence of drug-related crime (0.1 per 1,000, 50% below the UK average), which may reflect the area’s lower population density and limited nightlife infrastructure compared to major urban centres. Overall, the crime picture illustrates a balance between persistent violent crime and controlled property crime, shaped by the Vale of Glamorgan’s geography and seasonal rhythms.

December 2023 saw a stark 133.3% increase in robbery, rising from 3 to 7 incidents—a sharp contrast to the 38.8% decline in anti-social behaviour, which fell from 98 to 60. This shift suggests a combination of policing priorities and community dynamics during the festive season. Shoplifting emerged as a standout category, with a rate of 1.0 per 1,000—104% above the UK average—highlighting the strain of high-street retail during Christmas. Meanwhile, bicycle theft doubled from 1 to 2 incidents, a 100% increase that may be linked to seasonal travel or reduced visibility in dark evenings. The drop in anti-social behaviour could indicate the effectiveness of local initiatives targeting nuisance crime during the holiday period. Violent crime remained the largest single category, with 307 incidents—2.3 per 1,000—12% below the UK average for this category. This suggests a focus on preventing more severe crimes, such as assault, may be yielding results. Residents should be aware that while overall rates are lower than the UK average, specific categories like shoplifting warrant attention, particularly in retail hubs during peak shopping periods.

The Vale of Glamorgan’s December 2023 crime rate of 5.9 per 1,000 residents marks an 8.2% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 6.4, continuing a downward trend that may reflect sustained community policing efforts. On a daily basis, the area recorded 26 crimes per day—a local figure that provides context for residents assessing risk in their daily routines. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 171 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. This statistic underscores the area’s relatively low crime environment, though it must be balanced against the sharp rise in specific categories like robbery and shoplifting. The population of 135,743 further contextualises these figures: with fewer residents per square mile compared to densely populated urban areas, the Vale of Glamorgan’s crime rates are distributed across a broader geographic footprint. This may contribute to lower per capita rates for crimes like burglary (0.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000), both of which are significantly below UK averages. While the overall rate is lower than the UK average, the data reveals unevenness in crime types, with shoplifting and public order offences standing out as areas of concern. These comparisons highlight the importance of localised analysis, as national averages can obscure regional variations in crime patterns.