Deciding on the right area for you is a huge consideration, and one that many deliberate over for months and even years at a time. For good reason, of course – the place you choose to settle down or set up a business plays an unprecedented role in determining your successes and your shortcomings, as well as ultimately how happy you are.
That’s especially true of the Welsh capital Cardiff, which offers one of the UK’s most diverse and interesting landscapes. From its quaintly cobbled centre that pulses around the iconic castle, to the suburbs and outskirts that give way to Wales’ infamous rolling valleys, Cardiff is a strong contender for those seeking a new place to call home.
However, there are a few key pointers to consider, with the chief among these being the Welsh capital’s crime rate. Here at Churchill Support Services, we’ve long been committed to safety, exemplified by both our industry-leading security services and our reports on key crime rates across England and Wales and London’s most dangerous areas, amongst many others.
With our latest piece, we’ll be focusing on the most dangerous areas in Cardiff, exploring both the figures that highlight the issues those regions face, and advice on how you can stay safe in the Welsh capital.
While often overlooked in favour of London, the Welsh capital of Cardiff is less of a hidden gem and more of an unsung hero. Constructed around its 2000-year-old castle that’s been painstakingly preserved, the city has experienced a steady rise to its stardom, developing a flourishing economy and a vibrant nightlife in that time.
It’s a city with draws for those from all walks of life, with the city’s stellar educational options offering a haven for students, and its keen sense of arts and culture weaving a rich tapestry of both Welsh and international history. In spite of those draws, however, the city hides a concerning crime rate beneath a glittering exterior.
With a concerning crime rate of 107.1 crimes per 1000 residents, or a shade above 1 crime per 10 people living in the city, it’s clear there’s pressing concerns for residents and businesses Cardiff-wide. Of the 39,837 incidents committed across the Welsh capital over the last year, 39.7% of those were theft offences (15,457 incidents), including shoplifting, burglary and pickpocketing offences.
There’s equally warranted worries surrounding high rates of both violent crime (12,506 incidents) and public order offences (4,565 incidents), as well as a rate of stalking and harassment offences (4,293 incidents) that’s more than double the average for the South Wales area.
That’s not to say every area of Wales’ capital experiences the same issues – far from it. Let’s look in more depth at the most dangerous areas of Cardiff, and the unique issues they face.
We’ll break down the 15 most dangerous areas in Cardiff, including the key statistics that earn them a less-than-desirable spot on our list.
One of the Welsh capital’s quieter suburban areas, you’ll find Pentwyn to the North East of the centre of Cardiff. While the region’s slower pace of life has proven an attraction to many, it’s also brought with the wrong crowd, with Pentwyn at the bottom end of the most dangerous areas of Cardiff.
Digging deeper uncovers several key issues that contribute towards Pentwyn’s overall crime rate of 95.8 crimes per 1,000 residents. That’s chiefly down to soaring figures in violent crime (582 offences), which accounts for 1 in every 3 offences. There’s also mounting worry around the rates of both antisocial behaviour (214 offences) and criminal damage (130 offences).
A major commuter suburb for the thriving city centre, Canton’s roots have predominantly lain in the working class, with the town centre still bearing reminders of the region’s industrious history. Now a huge prospect for those seeking to lay down roots in an up-and-coming district of the Welsh capital, arguably Canton’s only let down is its rising crime rate, which sits at 99.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Violent crimes (412 incidents) and vehicle offences (255 incidents) are the major issues in the area, accounting for a startling 42% of all criminal activity in the area. Of course, that’s far from the only problems facing Canton residents, with rising statistics in antisocial behaviour (183 incidents) and public order offences (175 incidents) prompting concern.
Renowned for its affluency and the tree-lined avenues that punctuate this market district of the Welsh capital, Penylan couples Edwardian architecture with the modern trappings you’d expect of a major city area. However, with a crime rate that’s above the city-wide average at 107.3 crimes per 1000 residents, that blend hides a worrying truth.
The main cause for concern is a rising rate of violent crime (324 offences), which accounts for more than 1 in every 4 incidents in the area. That’s coupled with soaring numbers across vehicle crime (185 offences) and shoplifting (185 offences), both of which have been consistent issues over the last decade.
A leafy suburb towards Cardiff’s northernmost reaches, and perhaps best known for the towering government buildings that dominate the skyline, Llanishen’s luscious surroundings and quaint streets belie the concerning crime rate of 113.2 crimes per 1000 residents.
Digging deeper into that startling statistic, we find that violent crime (376 offences) and antisocial behaviour (170 offences) are the major concerns, accounting for some 46% of the 1,179 offences from the last year. Plus, with figures continually exceeding last year’s averages, those concerns for security in Llanishen are only set to grow.
Famed for its Tudor fronted shopping areas, Fairwater retains a keen sense of what many consider to be traditional Wales, tying together a close-compacted residential area on the outskirts of the bustling Cardiff city centre with the serenity of the Welsh countryside. Beneath the surface, however, lurks a crime rate of 120.4 crimes per 1000 residents.
The major concern for those living in Fairwater is violent crime (520 incidents), which is one of the major causes of Fairwater’s highest rate of crime in over 3 years. Those concerning figures come alongside equally worrying numbers in antisocial behaviour (286 incidents), public order offences (199 incidents) and criminal damage (141 incidents).
A hub for sport and culture across Cardiff’s eastern reaches, Llanrumney has a surprisingly storied history that dates back to the 13th Century. Of course, the region has made significant strides since then, and an unfortunate side effect of that is the rising rate of crime, which sits at 125.3 crimes per 1000 residents.
The headlines are often dominated by the high rates of both violent crime (485 offences) and antisocial behaviour (305 offences), which together make up more than 50% of all criminal activity in Llanrumney, alongside an equally worrying rate of shoplifting (126 offences).
One of Cardiff’s more rapidly expanding residential areas, Ely’s reputation for criminal activity and less-than-desirable living conditions mean it’s no perhaps no surprise that the region makes our list of Cardiff’s most dangerous areas. However, with a crime rate of 130.8 crimes per 1000 residents, just how bad Ely is may come as a shock.
With headlines often being made for all the wrong reasons, it won’t come as a shock to see that Ely’s rates of both violent crime (891 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (294 incidents) are among the highest we’ve seen so far, as well as a soaring rate of public order offences (261 incidents).
Beribboned by the River Taff, and just a stone’s throw away from Cardiff’s iconic Bay area, the district of Grangetown is one of the Welsh’s capital most diverse, as well as one of its more built up, hosting a substantial amount of the city’s total population. That diversity is undercut by a worrying crime rate, however, which currently sits at 131.8 crimes per 1000 residents.
The major issue lies in the rising number of violent crimes (810 incidents), which is among the highest we’ve seen so far in our rankings of the most dangerous areas in Cardiff. Couple that with similarly startling figures in both antisocial behaviour (340 incidents) and shoplifting (332 incidents), and it’s easy to see how Grangetown earns its place on the list.
Synonymous with its market that has city-wide renown and popularity, Splott seamlessly couple that reputation for retail with both a keen sense of preservation in its green spaces, and a community spirit in its residential areas. That reputation is undercut, however, by a climbing rate of crime, which sits at a shocking 140.3 crimes per 1000 residents.
Worryingly, it’s violent crime (582 incidents) that makes up the lion’s share of all crime in the area, accounting for 26% (or 1 in every 4) of crime in Splott. That’s in conjunction with high figures across vehicle crime (259 incidents), antisocial behaviour (236 incidents), and public order offences (190 incidents).
A prevalent part of western Cardiff, and one of its more vibrant, self-sufficient communities, Caerau is one of Cardiff’s more populous areas, with much of the landscape dotted with housing, schools and local amenities. In spite of that community feel, however, there’s a clear issue with criminal activity, with the crime rate at an alarming 154.5 crimes per 1000 residents.
The two main contributors to that rate – violent crimes (725 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (256 incidents) – account for more than 54% of all crime in the area, and often dominate local headlines. When those are coupled with equally concerning numbers in public order offences (234 incidents) and criminal damage (171 incidents), the issues in Caerau are all too apparent.
One of the more built up residential areas in Cardiff’s city centre, Roath has become extremely popular with students given its close proximity to the city’s universities and its burgeoning nightlife options. However, densely packed housing often leads to issues, and Roath is no different, seeing a soaring crime rate of 154.5 crimes per 1000 residents.
Violent crime (695 offences) is the main issue for residents in Roath, alongside an equally concerning rate of shoplifting (443 offences), which together make up more than 39% of all crime across the region. That’s in addition to one of the highest rates of antisocial behaviour (305 offences) across the whole of Cardiff.
A combination of two of Cardiff’s more prominent inner-city districts, blending together the architecture and artistry the city’s become known for with spacious, tree-lined avenues. Riverside and its neighbouring Pontcanna are what many picture when imagining Cardiff, but that glamour is ruined by a rising rate of crime – 179.9 crimes per 1000 residents, to be exact.
As we’ve seen with many of the entries on our list of the most dangerous areas in Cardiff, violent crime (731 incidents), vehicle crimes (292 incidents) and public order offences (278 incidents) are the region’s most prominent issues, accounting for more than 50% of Riverside and Pontcanna’s crime figures.
One of Cardiff’s more popular student districts, and home to much of the city’s justice system in its prison and magistrate’s court, it may not come as a shock to see Adamsdown in the third spot on our ranking of the most dangerous areas in Cardiff. However, the truth of the matter is far more alarming, with the region seeing a whopping 256.6 crimes per 1000 residents, or 1 crime for every 4 people.
Looking more closely, we find that the major concern arises from rising numbers in both violent crime (739 offences) and antisocial behaviour (437 offences). Perhaps just as concerning for the area’s many businesses, however, is Adamsdown’s figures in shoplifting (407 offences), which are among the highest outside the city centre itself.
Home to the city’s iconic Bay area, offering sweeping vistas across the ocean from some of Cardiff’s more scenic wetlands and park areas, as well as the trailhead that connects Bute to Penarth. Synonymous with serenity, it’ll come as a shock to many to see Butetown so high on this list of Cardiff’s most dangerous areas, with a crime rate of 300.9 crimes per 1000 residents.
Antisocial behaviour (930 incidents) and violent crime (881 incidents) are the most prevalent problems for Butetown’s residents, both of which have contributed towards 2024 shaping up to be one of the region’s worst yet for crime. There’s also growing concern for the region’s rate of shoplifting (417 incidents) and public order offences (368 incidents).
Officially the most dangerous area in Cardiff, Cathays is also arguably its most popular. Encompassing the city centre and the eponymous castle, it’s a vibrant metropolis that’s seen exponential growth in recent years. From its thriving retail opportunities, to the museums and attractions that celebrate the rich Welsh culture, Cathays has much to warrant its massive appeal to tourists and residents alike.
However, that huge level of attraction masks Cardiff’s most pressing concerns in terms of crime. With crime figures that are more than double the next highest region of the city (8,210 total offences), Cathays has a worryingly wide array of issues for residents to contend with.
Soaring rates in both violent crime (2,100 offences) and shoplifting (1,909 offences) have seen the district’s crime rates reach unprecedented highs, with June of 2024 alone seeing a shocking 775 offences. There’s also startling rates of antisocial behaviour (733 offences), public order crimes (719 offences) and vehicle crime (484 offences).
In the interests of clarity, transparency and impartiality, we’ve opted to use the official South Wales Police data, alongside officially published data from the Office of National Statistics, to give a clear indicator of the most dangerous areas in Cardiff.
We’ve then broken this down by council wards and the city’s regions so as to give residents, businesses and visitors a clear indicator of where the safer areas are, as well as where to avoid. This is displayed as a ratio of crimes per 1000 people living in the area, which allows us to account for key variables like population, density and commuter activity.
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