Vale of Glamorgan Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in Vale of Glamorgan during December 2024, accounting for 36.4% of all reported crimes. With a total crime rate of 5.3 per 1,000 residents, the area recorded 25.4% fewer crimes than the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This relatively low rate contrasts with the national picture, where property crimes typically outnumber violent crimes. The seasonal context of December—characterised by extended dark evenings, Christmas shopping activity, and the presence of empty homes during holiday periods—likely contributes to the observed pattern. Violence and sexual offences, at 1.9 per 1,000, were 26% below the UK average for this category, suggesting a combination of effective policing strategies and community engagement efforts in high-risk environments. Shoplifting. from November levels, remained a persistent issue at 0.7 per 1,000, 23% above the UK average. This discrepancy may reflect the area’s retail density and the proximity of major shopping centres to residential zones, where foot traffic and festive spending create opportunities for opportunistic theft. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.6 per 1,000, was 36% below the UK average, potentially indicating successful interventions in public spaces during the holiday season. The data illustrates a combination of local geography, seasonal rhythms, and policing effectiveness, with violence and sexual offences emerging as the most significant driver of crime in this predominantly urban-rural district.

December 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with shoplifting decreasing by 32.1% compared to November, likely due to heightened police visibility in retail areas during the Christmas shopping peak. This decline contrasts with a 40% increase in possession of weapons offences, rising from 5 to 7 cases, which may signal a small but concerning trend in illicit activity. Violence and sexual offences, while remaining the most common category, were 26% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, suggesting that local initiatives targeting domestic and public safety have had some impact. Anti-social behaviour also fell by 28.1%, possibly linked to festive community events fostering a more cohesive environment. However, shoplifting’s 23% above UK average highlights vulnerabilities in retail security, with 95 incidents reported in December. The drop in theft from the person by 75% (from 4 to 1 cases) may reflect both reduced foot traffic in certain areas and improved lighting infrastructure in key locations. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic nature of crime in Vale of Glamorgan, where seasonal factors and targeted interventions can rapidly influence crime trends.

The crime rate in December 2024 (5.3 per 1,000) marked a 10.7% decrease from November’s rate of 5.9 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained downward trend. Over the course of the month, 714 crimes were reported, averaging 23 crimes per day—a figure that provides context for local residents assessing risk levels in their daily routines. When scaled to the population of 135,743, this equates to one reported crime for every 190 residents over the month, a ratio that is lower than the UK average. This monthly exposure statistic, while not directly comparable to national figures, offers a tangible measure of how frequently crime affects individuals in the area. The decline from November may be attributed to both the holiday season’s impact on crime patterns—such as reduced alcohol-fuelled violence—and the ongoing effectiveness of policing strategies in high-crime zones. The contrast between the area’s performance and the UK average, particularly in categories like violence and anti-social behaviour, suggests that Vale of Glamorgan’s unique mix of urban and rural environments, coupled with targeted community engagement, may be contributing to its relatively safer profile compared to other regions.