Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, and its crime profile varies widely between districts. Cardiff city centre and the Bay (CF10) sit in a completely different crime environment from Rhiwbina (CF14) or Cyncoed (CF23). Knowing where a postcode falls on that spectrum matters a great deal for homebuyers, renters, and anyone moving to the Welsh capital.
This breakdown uses recent data from the official UK Police API, covering the postcode districts that fall within the South Wales Police force area.
Cardiff Crime at a Glance
South Wales Police covers Cardiff, Swansea, and the surrounding valleys. Within Cardiff itself, crime is concentrated in the city centre, the Bay, and several inner districts, while the northern suburbs record consistently low counts.
| Postcode | Area | Character | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| CF10 | City centre / Cardiff Bay | Dense commercial, retail and nightlife core | Higher |
| CF24 | Adamsdown / Roath / Cathays | Inner-city and student area | Higher |
| CF5 | Ely / Caerau / Canton | Mixed residential, deprivation in parts | Medium |
| CF11 | Grangetown / Riverside / Pontcanna | Diverse inner residential | Medium |
| CF14 | Rhiwbina / Heath / Llanishen / Whitchurch | Affluent northern suburbs | Lower |
| CF23 | Cyncoed / Pen-y-lan / Pontprennau | Prosperous residential | Lower |
Source: data.police.uk. Risk level is relative within the Cardiff area.
The Safest Parts of Cardiff
The most consistently low-crime postcodes in Cardiff sit in the north of the city. Areas like Rhiwbina, Llanishen and Whitchurch (CF14), along with Lisvane and Radyr, are predominantly owner-occupied residential suburbs with low commercial footfall and strong community ties.
Rhiwbina and Lisvane in particular record some of the lowest crime counts in the city. These are low-density, high-value residential areas with limited through-traffic.
Cyncoed and Pen-y-lan (CF23) are the highest-profile safer areas closer to the centre. They are popular with professionals and families and consistently record lower crime than the inner-city postcodes, though the busier parts of Roath nearby see more activity.
Crime Hotspots in Cardiff
Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay, covered by the CF10 postcode, record some of the highest crime counts in the city. This reflects the concentration of retail, late-night venues, the stadium, and a large transient population. Violence and sexual offences, public order, and theft from the person are all elevated here, particularly on event days.
Adamsdown and parts of Roath (CF24) have a busy inner-city profile, with elevated anti-social behaviour and burglary around the student streets of Cathays during term time. Ely (CF5) has historically recorded higher vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour, with deprivation above the national average in parts.
What Crime Types Dominate in Cardiff?
Across South Wales, violence and sexual offences consistently tops the crime category table. In Cardiff city centre, theft from the person and public order are significantly elevated compared to suburban districts, driven by the retail core and night-time economy. Burglary is a particular concern in the student belt around Cathays during term time.
Anti-social behaviour is notably higher in the central and inner districts, while the northern suburbs see far lower counts.
Comparing Cardiff to the National Average
Cardiff sits above the average for some categories, which is typical for a capital city with a compact, event-driven centre and a major stadium. Public order and theft stand out around match and concert days.
Even so, the safest suburbs compare very well with equivalent areas elsewhere. Rhiwbina, Lisvane, and Cyncoed have crime profiles broadly similar to prosperous residential areas across the UK.
How to Check Your Cardiff Postcode
District-level data gives you the broad picture. In Cardiff, where the difference between neighbouring streets can be significant, ward-level data tells a more useful story. A CrimeSafe report gives you 24 months of trend data, a ward-level breakdown, outcome rates, and a safety score for any Cardiff postcode.