Cardiff Crime Overview
Cardiff is the most dangerous city in South Glamorgan, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of South Glamorgan's 60 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Cardiff in 2020 was 51 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to South Glamorgan's overall crime rate, coming in 65% lower than the South Glamorgan rate of 84 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Cardiff is among the top 5 safest cities, and the 2,908th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2020, Cardiff had the worst crime rate in South Glamorgan for bicycle theft, with 24 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.07 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2020 was also a bad month for Cardiff residents, when it was South Glamorgan's most dangerous area for burglary, recording 105 crimes at a rate of 0.30 per 1,000 residents. Cardiff recorded 126 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2020, making its crime rate of 0.36 the worst for criminal damage and arson in South Glamorgan that month.
The most common crimes in Cardiff are violence and sexual offences, with 5,816 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 16. This is 8% lower than 2019's figure of 6,292 offences and a difference of 1.35 from 2019's crime rate of 18. Cardiff's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 138 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 19% from 2019's figure of 164 crimes.
Compare Cardiff to other towns and cities
See how Cardiff shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Cardiff and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
Cardiff Crime Map
Crime in Cardiff Compared To South Glamorgan
Summary of Crimes in Cardiff This Year
| Cardiff | South Glamorgan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 8,350 | 23.58 | 19,617 | 39.21 | 66% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 602 | 1.70 | 1,163 | 2.32 | 36% safer |
| Burglary | 1,114 | 3.15 | 2,322 | 4.64 | 47% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 1,880 | 5.31 | 4,612 | 9.22 | 74% safer |
| Drugs | 1,095 | 3.09 | 2,264 | 4.53 | 47% safer |
| Other Crime | 309 | 0.87 | 783 | 1.57 | 80% safer |
| Other Theft | 1,347 | 3.80 | 3,311 | 6.62 | 74% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 138 | 0.39 | 321 | 0.64 | 64% safer |
| Public Order | 2,281 | 6.44 | 5,203 | 10.40 | 61% safer |
| Robbery | 140 | 0.40 | 284 | 0.57 | 42% safer |
| Shoplifting | 1,577 | 4.45 | 3,387 | 6.77 | 52% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 237 | 0.67 | 516 | 1.03 | 54% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 1,626 | 4.59 | 3,507 | 7.01 | 53% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 5,816 | 16.42 | 14,556 | 29.10 | 77% safer |
Crime Over Time in Cardiff
View crime percentage over time forRecent Crimes in Cardiff
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2021 | Other theft | On or near Despenser Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Despenser Gardens | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| October 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Bartley Wilson Way | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Public order | On or near Supermarket | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Other theft | On or near Hazeldene Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Public order | On or near Ebwy Court | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Bicycle theft | On or near Heol Y Brodyr Llwydion | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Public order | On or near Heol Y Brodyr Llwydion | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Public order | On or near Heol Y Brodyr Llwydion | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| October 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Public order | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| October 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| October 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Albany Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Albany Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Clos-Yr-Gornant | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| October 2021 | Public order | On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
Cardiff Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 17 | 16 | 14 | 24 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.7 | Safer |
| Burglary | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.2 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | Safer |
| Drugs | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.1 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 0.92 | 0.92 | 0.93 | 0.87 | Safer |
| Other Theft | 5 | 5 | 4.7 | 3.8 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.32 | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.39 | Safer |
| Public Order | 4.6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.37 | 0.40 | Getting worse |
| Shoplifting | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4.4 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.2 | 0.69 | 0.84 | 0.67 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.6 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | Safer |
Changes In Cardiff's Crime Rates Over Time
Offences in Cardiff's Green Spaces
We only display green spaces in Cardiff that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2020.
| 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 |
Comparing Cardiff to the UK's Major Cities
| City | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 51.28 | - |
| Barnet | 67.71 | 24% more dangerous |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 34% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 83.22 | 38% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 40% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 41% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 47% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 50% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 52% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 61% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 63% more dangerous |
Crime in Cardiff's Neighbourhoods
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 North, Lisvane, and Thornhill.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamsdown | 2,358 | 195 | Second |
| Cathays North | 498 | 53 | 15th |
| Cathays South & Bute Park | 3,913 | 309 | First |
| Cyncoed North | 190 | 32 | 19th |
| Cyncoed South & Roath Park | 330 | 43 | 17th |
| Gabalfa | 638 | 65 | 14th |
| Grangetown North | 777 | 87 | Eighth |
| Grangetown South | 700 | 101 | Fifth |
| Lisvane | 149 | 26 | 21st |
| Llandaf & Danescourt | 340 | 38 | 18th |
| Llandaf North | 691 | 80 | Ninth |
| Llanishen | 685 | 71 | 11th |
| Llanrumney North | 614 | 89 | Seventh |
| Llanrumney South | 460 | 70 | 13th |
| Pwll-mawr & St Mellons East | 520 | 70 | 12th |
| Rumney | 421 | 72 | Tenth |
| Splott | 844 | 137 | Third |
| St Mellons West | 751 | 116 | Fourth |
| Thornhill | 179 | 31 | 20th |
| Trowbridge | 616 | 99 | Sixth |
| Whitchurch | 346 | 44 | 16th |
Cardiff Neighbourhood Crime Breakdown
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 | Lisvane (61) | Cathays South & Bute Park (1,770) |
| Bicycle Theft | Llanrumney North (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (313) |
| Burglary | Thornhill (6) | Cathays South & Bute Park (155) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Lisvane (13) | Adamsdown (236) |
| Drugs | Cyncoed North (2) | Cathays South & Bute Park (264) |
| Other Crime | Lisvane (2) | Adamsdown (54) |
| Other Theft | Thornhill (7) | Cathays South & Bute Park (389) |
| Possession of Weapons | Llanrumney South (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (38) |
| Public Order | Cyncoed North (9) | Cathays South & Bute Park (516) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Trowbridge (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (30) |
| Shoplifting | Pwll-mawr & St Mellons East (9) | Cathays South & Bute Park (660) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Llanrumney North (1) | Cathays South & Bute Park (225) |
| Vehicle Crime | Thornhill (13) | Adamsdown (305) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Cyncoed North (52) | Cathays South & Bute Park (937) |
Crime in Cardiff During Coronavirus Lockdowns
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 May, when Cardiff saw a 163% increase in anti-social behaviour. Cardiff saw a large fall in theft from the person during July, when it fell by 68% compared to July 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, other theft, and theft from the person.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -4% | +149% | +163% | +108% | +44% | +34% | +25% | +75% | +132% | +93% |
| Bicycle Theft | +14% | -35% | -5% | -42% | -51% | -47% | -11% | -20% | -15% | -60% |
| Burglary | +21% | -35% | -59% | -29% | +19% | -13% | -33% | +9% | +3% | +6% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | +21% | -25% | -31% | -15% | -4% | -1% | -2% | -20% | -10% | -30% |
| Drugs | +19% | +1% | +9% | +40% | +33% | +4% | -7% | +43% | +18% | -13% |
| Other Crime | +7% | -37% | -26% | -14% | -22% | - | -6% | +11% | +22% | -29% |
| Other Theft | -17% | -49% | -47% | -26% | -23% | -22% | -23% | -18% | -22% | +6% |
| Possession of Weapons | -38% | -53% | +9% | +111% | -20% | -50% | -28% | +150% | +45% | -29% |
| Public Order | -14% | -28% | +15% | +3% | +12% | +11% | +30% | -7% | +19% | -21% |
| Robbery | +71% | -42% | -42% | -38% | -13% | +13% | +25% | +50% | +70% | +71% |
| Shoplifting | -46% | -63% | -67% | -53% | -32% | -27% | -27% | -11% | -21% | -34% |
| Theft From the Person | +4% | -43% | -26% | -38% | -68% | -10% | -26% | -39% | -60% | -66% |
| Vehicle Crime | +3% | -37% | -52% | -36% | -37% | -3% | +41% | +54% | +15% | +22% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -16% | -24% | -25% | -22% | -7% | +1% | +8% | -15% | +7% | -18% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Cardiff
What police force serves Cardiff?
Cardiff's local territorial police force is the South Wales Police.How dangerous is Cardiff?
Cardiff is the most dangerous city in South Glamorgan.What is Cardiff's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Cardiff are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Cardiff?
Cardiff's least common crimes are possession of weapons.Last updated: 26 Nov 2021