Penarth Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Penarth in January 2026 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property offences, with violent crimes dominating the landscape. At 3.3 crimes per 1,000 residents, Penarth's overall crime rate sits 51.5% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, reflecting a safer environment compared to national trends. This disparity is most pronounced in violent crimes, which accounted for 39.6% of total incidents (38 cases), significantly below the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000 (48% below). The prominence of violence and sexual offences suggests a unique dynamic in the built-up area, possibly influenced by local social patterns or community initiatives. Property crimes, while lower in absolute numbers (31 cases), still represent a notable portion of the total, with criminal damage and arson (14 cases) and anti-social behaviour (10 cases) standing out as recurring concerns. Seasonal context for January typically sees reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, which may likely contribute to the lower incidence of shoplifting and vehicle crime compared to busier months. However, the presence of public order offences (13 cases) and anti-social behaviour (10 cases) indicates ongoing challenges in maintaining public safety during colder, darker evenings. The data also highlights Penarth's relative success in keeping drug-related crimes (2 cases) and burglary (1 case) well below UK averages, though the small sample size for these categories means interpretation must remain cautious. This crime mix suggests a community where violent incidents are more prevalent than property theft, a pattern that could reflect the area's character as a mix of residential and commercial zones with limited industrial activity. The seasonal context of January, with its post-holiday lull and reduced outdoor activity, may partly explain the lower rates of theft from the person and bicycle theft compared to peak tourist months.

January 2026 saw notable shifts in Penarth's crime mix, with possession of weapons increasing by 100% (from 0 to 2 cases) and criminal damage and arson rising by 55.6% (from 9 to 14 cases). These increases contrast with significant declines in shoplifting (-85.7%, from 14 to 2 cases) and vehicle crime (-75%, from 12 to 3 cases), suggesting a reallocation of criminal activity towards more confrontational or property-damage oriented offences. The dominance of violent crimes (38 cases) over property crimes (31 cases) marks a stark departure from the UK average, where property offences typically outnumber violent ones. This shift could reflect local factors such as the built-up area's proximity to transport links or social dynamics that heighten interpersonal tensions. Anti-social behaviour, while lower than the UK average (57% below), still accounted for 10.4% of total crimes, indicating persistent issues in public spaces. A resident would find the 85.7% drop in shoplifting particularly noteworthy, as it suggests either improved retail security measures or a seasonal reduction in foot traffic aligning with January's post-holiday context. The 100% increase in weapon possession, however, raises concerns about potential spikes in aggression or the presence of illicit weapons in the area, though the small number of cases means this trend requires further observation. The data also shows that Penarth's rates for bicycle theft (100% below UK average) and robbery (100% below) remain exceptionally low, possibly due to the area's limited cycling infrastructure or effective local policing strategies.

Penarth's January 2026 crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents represents a 26.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.5 per 1,000, illustrating a downward trend in criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 3 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that contextualizes the overall rate in terms of local frequency rather than national benchmarks. When considering monthly exposure, residents faced a 1-in-301 chance of being involved in a reported crime, a statistic that underscores the relatively low risk profile of Penarth compared to areas with higher crime rates. This monthly aggregate does not account for daily fluctuations, which may be influenced by factors such as weekend activity or specific events. The population context further highlights Penarth's safety, as its crime rate is more than half that of the UK average, a disparity that could reflect the area's character as a built-up but relatively quiet community within the Vale of Glamorgan. While the previous month's rate was higher, the January figures demonstrate a consistent effort to maintain lower crime levels, through targeted policing or community engagement initiatives. The comparison to the UK average also reveals that Penarth's success in keeping anti-social behaviour and drug-related crimes well below national levels may be attributable to specific local conditions, such as effective community policing or the absence of high-risk demographics. However, the increase in criminal damage and arson suggests that certain challenges persist, requiring continued attention from local authorities.