Cardiff is the most dangerous city in South Glamorgan, and is among the top 5 most dangerous overall out of South Glamorgan's 60 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Cardiff in 2021 was 85 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to South Glamorgan's overall crime rate, coming in 0.12% higher than the South Glamorgan rate of 85 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Cardiff is the 27th safest city, and the 880th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2021, Cardiff had the worst crime rate in South Glamorgan for bicycle theft, with 75 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.21 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2021 was also a bad month for Cardiff residents, when it was South Glamorgan's most dangerous area for burglary, recording 121 crimes at a rate of 0.34 per 1,000 residents. Cardiff recorded 240 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2021, making its crime rate of 0.68 the worst for criminal damage and arson in South Glamorgan that month.
The most common crimes in Cardiff are violence and sexual offences, with 10,459 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 30. This is 11% higher than 2020's figure of 9,259 offences and a difference of 3.39 from 2020's crime rate of 26. Cardiff's least common crime is robbery, with 214 offences recorded in 2021, a decrease of 12% from 2020's figure of 240 crimes.
Most Dangerous
Cities, South Glamorgan
12% higher, regional crime rate
Wales
15% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Cardiff is 12% higher than Wales and 15% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Cardiff | |
| Wales | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Cardiff represent the time frame between April 2019 and March 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 30,253 |
| 2020 | 84 | 29,650 |
| 2019 | 97 | 34,244 |
| 2018 | 94 | 33,328 |
| 2017 | 93 | 32,818 |
| 2016 | 84 | 29,886 |
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| Cardiff | South Glamorgan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 10,691 | 30.19 | 15,917 | 31.82 | 5% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 962 | 2.72 | 1,105 | 2.21 | 19% more dangerous |
| Burglary | 1,751 | 4.94 | 2,237 | 4.47 | 10% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 2,778 | 7.84 | 4,392 | 8.78 | 12% safer |
| Drugs | 1,529 | 4.32 | 1,929 | 3.86 | 11% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 467 | 1.32 | 717 | 1.43 | 8% safer |
| Other Theft | 2,350 | 6.64 | 3,226 | 6.45 | 2.9% more dangerous |
| Possession of Weapons | 220 | 0.62 | 308 | 0.62 | 0% safer |
| Public Order | 3,980 | 11.24 | 5,782 | 11.56 | 2.8% safer |
| Robbery | 214 | 0.60 | 262 | 0.52 | 13% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 2,790 | 7.88 | 3,321 | 6.64 | 16% more dangerous |
| Theft From the Person | 315 | 0.89 | 382 | 0.76 | 15% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 2,438 | 6.88 | 3,038 | 6.07 | 12% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 10,459 | 29.53 | 15,985 | 31.95 | 8% safer |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Brachdy Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Borage Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Hawthorn Road West | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Sandringham Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Boleyn Walk | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Llandough Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Beech Road | Further investigation is not in the public interest |
| March 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Portmanmoor Road Lane | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Coed-Y-Gores | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Mackintosh Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Hawkwood Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Cymmer Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Monmouth Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Gelligaer Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Pedestrian Subway | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Coed Glas Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Waun-Gron Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near South Park Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Shopping Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Shopping Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 26 | 23 | 37 | 30 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 3.7 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.7 | Safer |
| Burglary | 6 | 5 | 5.0 | 4.9 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | Safer |
| Drugs | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.3 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 | Safer |
| Other Theft | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.70 | 0.81 | 0.65 | 0.62 | Safer |
| Public Order | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.66 | 0.65 | 0.68 | 0.60 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 13 | 12 | 8 | 8 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.89 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 28 | 29 | 26 | 30 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Cardiff that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2021.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairwater Park | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0.22 |
| Fairwater Recreation Ground | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.41 |
| Glamorgan Wanderers Memorial Rugby Ground | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1.1 |
| Glenwood Church | 14 | 2 | 2 | - | 4 | 5 | 61 |
| Heath Park | 7 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 0.28 |
| Maes Hamdden y Rhath | 22 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4.3 |
| North Llanishen Recreation Ground | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 0.75 |
| Old Church Rooms Baptist Church | 9 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 84 |
| Parc y Gamlas | 6 | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Roath Park | 45 | 3 | - | - | 7 | 13 | 1.8 |
| Sevenoaks Park | 16 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 | 0 | 4.4 |
| City | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | 39.93 | 114% safer |
| Birmingham | 49.60 | 72% safer |
| Barnet | 67.08 | 27% safer |
| Croydon | 82.48 | 3.6% safer |
| Cardiff | 85.42 | - |
| Sheffield | 90.03 | 5% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 90.52 | 6% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 111.59 | 23% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 123.06 | 31% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 132.28 | 35% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 150.94 | 43% more dangerous |
Cathays South & Bute Park is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Cardiff, followed by Adamsdown in second place, and Splott as the third most dangerous area. Cardiff's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Cyncoed South & Roath Park, Lisvane, and Thornhill.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamsdown | 2,314 | 192 | Second |
| Cathays North | 632 | 67 | 11th |
| Cathays South & Bute Park | 4,681 | 370 | First |
| Cyncoed North | 222 | 37 | 18th |
| Cyncoed South & Roath Park | 269 | 35 | 19th |
| Gabalfa | 622 | 63 | 14th |
| Grangetown North | 765 | 85 | Eighth |
| Grangetown South | 680 | 98 | Sixth |
| Lisvane | 128 | 22 | 21st |
| Llandaf & Danescourt | 356 | 40 | 17th |
| Llandaf North | 659 | 76 | Tenth |
| Llanishen | 613 | 64 | 13th |
| Llanrumney North | 673 | 97 | Seventh |
| Llanrumney South | 513 | 78 | Ninth |
| Pwll-mawr & St Mellons East | 480 | 65 | 12th |
| Rumney | 350 | 59 | 15th |
| Splott | 848 | 138 | Third |
| St Mellons West | 743 | 114 | Fourth |
| Thornhill | 185 | 32 | 20th |
| Trowbridge | 675 | 109 | Fifth |
| Whitchurch | 326 | 41 | 16th |
Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Cardiff for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Cyncoed North (52) | Cathays South & Bute Park (1,739) |
| Bicycle Theft | Llanrumney South (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (342) |
| Burglary | Thornhill (3) | Cathays South & Bute Park (168) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Thornhill (9) | Cathays South & Bute Park (252) |
| Drugs | Lisvane (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (255) |
| Other Crime | Lisvane (1) | Adamsdown (53) |
| Other Theft | Thornhill (10) | Cathays South & Bute Park (426) |
| Possession of Weapons | Llanishen (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (47) |
| Public Order | Lisvane (15) | Cathays South & Bute Park (519) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Llandaf North (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (43) |
| Shoplifting | Trowbridge (2) | Cathays South & Bute Park (821) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Whitchurch (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (161) |
| Vehicle Crime | Thornhill (8) | Splott (138) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Lisvane (59) | Cathays South & Bute Park (1,478) |
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Cardiff change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in April, when Cardiff saw a 164% increase in anti-social behaviour. Cardiff saw a large fall in theft from the person during December, when it fell by 78% compared to December in 2019. Cardiff saw consistent falls in the crime rate of several types of crime during every month of its Coronavirus lockdown, including bicycle theft, criminal damage and arson, and theft from the person.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -1% | +164% | +161% | +84% | +34% | +21% | +29% | +83% | +127% | +86% |
| Bicycle Theft | +18% | -29% | -13% | -44% | -59% | -37% | -5% | -19% | -19% | -32% |
| Burglary | +42% | -23% | -49% | -24% | -16% | -1% | -25% | +3% | +14% | -10% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | +23% | -30% | -31% | -28% | -15% | -10% | -10% | -10% | -17% | -34% |
| Drugs | +3% | +6% | +41% | +28% | +30% | -12% | -12% | +16% | +24% | -14% |
| Other Crime | -10% | -16% | -22% | -16% | -5% | -26% | -2% | - | +7% | -28% |
| Other Theft | -19% | -52% | -50% | -27% | -18% | -21% | -31% | -17% | -29% | -21% |
| Possession of Weapons | -16% | -53% | -8% | +20% | -39% | -54% | -41% | +23% | -27% | -33% |
| Public Order | -12% | -30% | +4% | -1% | +13% | +21% | +13% | -17% | +7% | -25% |
| Robbery | +58% | - | -56% | -24% | -11% | +4% | -16% | -8% | +155% | +44% |
| Shoplifting | -31% | -60% | -62% | -53% | -41% | -29% | -29% | -4% | -33% | -34% |
| Theft From the Person | - | -39% | -36% | -43% | -50% | -3% | -41% | -44% | -60% | -78% |
| Vehicle Crime | 0% | -37% | -55% | -37% | -26% | -12% | +43% | +40% | +7% | +19% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -9% | -24% | -24% | -20% | -11% | +4% | - | -14% | -5% | -19% |
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