Vale of Glamorgan Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

The Vale of Glamorgan’s January 2026 crime profile reveals a marked dominance of violent over property crime, with 296 violent incidents recorded compared to 232 property crimes. This imbalance, though not unprecedented, may be influenced by seasonal factors such as the post-holiday period, which typically sees reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours, potentially limiting opportunities for property-related offences. The overall crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents places the area 21.2% below the UK average, a consistent trend that reflects broader socio-economic and geographical characteristics. Violence and sexual offences constituted the largest share of crimes (41.8%), followed by public order (10.6%) and shoplifting (9.6%). This distribution suggests that community-based issues, such as anti-social behaviour and public disorder, remain significant contributors to the local crime profile. Shoplifting rates were 9% below the UK average, linked to the area’s retail environment or targeted policing efforts. Meanwhile, the lower-than-average rates for vehicle crime (73% below UK levels) and burglary (64% below) may indicate effective community engagement or infrastructure that deters such offences. These patterns align with the Vale of Glamorgan’s character as a mixed urban-rural area where local initiatives and seasonal rhythms likely play a role in shaping crime trends.

January 2026 saw a 130% surge in drug-related crimes, rising from 10 to 23 incidents—a stark contrast to the 80% decline in theft from the person, which dropped from 5 to 1. This shift in crime mix highlights a growing concern around drug-related activity, though it remains significantly below the UK average for this category by 26%. Meanwhile, property crime saw mixed trends: burglary increased by 16.7%, while vehicle crime fell sharply by 42.4%, possibly reflecting seasonal factors such as reduced retail footfall and shorter days. Public order offences, which accounted for 10.6% of total crimes, were 46% above the UK average, indicating a unique challenge in this category. These fluctuations suggest that while some areas of crime are stabilising, others—particularly drug-related incidents—require closer monitoring to address emerging patterns.

The crime rate in January 2026 remained stable at 5.2 per 1,000 residents, a 1.5% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.3. This consistency suggests no major spikes or dips in overall criminal activity during the period. Daily crime figures averaged 23 reported incidents per day, a figure that, while locally relevant, does not provide a direct comparison to national trends due to the absence of UK-wide daily data. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 192 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places the Vale of Glamorgan significantly below the UK average. This lower frequency aligns with the area’s broader trend of being 21.2% below the national crime rate. The population context further illustrates that, despite the 708 total crimes recorded, the area’s 135,743 residents experience a relatively low level of crime per capita. This suggests that local factors—such as community policing efforts, infrastructure, or socio-economic conditions—may contribute to the area’s sustained safety profile compared to the UK average.