Life in 'Britain's most crime-affected student area' with nearly 300 PER DAY as locals speak out

Isobel Feculak
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:22:54 +0000

In Cardiff’s busy student district of Cathays, packed terraces, shared houses, and a constant flow of nightlife are part of everyday life.

But some who live here say crime is a concern. “Well, I’m trying to go and retrieve a phone that was stolen from, like, the middle of Cardiff, just in the middle of the street,” one resident said.

Another described the moment her housemate returned from a night out to find “her taillight of her car was completely smashed in."

"It was obviously a deliberate attack, and nothing was ever kind of been able to be done about it, really, because there was no cameras.”

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Others spoke of repeated late-night disturbances. “Usually in the middle of the night on a Friday or Saturday, we’ll have people either ringing our doorbell repetitively or just banging on the door,” a tenant said.

“Quite a lot of fights. You. People smashing bins. If you’re in a vulnerable position, it’s probably not the safest place.”

These accounts are not isolated. Figures from the South Wales Police area show around 108,898 recorded crimes in the last year- close to 300 a day.

A June 2024 analysis by Internet of Learning ranked Cathays as the UK’s most crime-affected student area, with 32.5 crimes per 100 residents- compared to Sunderland, the second highest, at 24.9.

Nearly a third of offences are violent or sexual offences.

A Cardiff University Spokesperson said: “Student safety is a priority, and the figures relate to incidents in Cathays, not necessarily involving students.

"Cardiff is a major city, so comparisons aren’t straightforward, but the university works with partners on measures like safety schemes, security, and support tools to protect students."

But despite the crime rate slightly declining, some students say their feeling of safety hasn’t improved.

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“It doesn’t feel as comfortable or safe. Half of the times that I would be walking around, I get followed,” one student said.

Another added: “You get lots of people staring at you, I feel like that’s when I’m uncomfortable.”

Police insist action is under way. “We do a lot of work in keeping young people safe, particularly women and girls from sexual violence and street-based violence,” a spokesman said.

“We’ve invested in two student safety buses and a strong neighbourhood policing approach. It’s all about keeping people safe in their communities.”

For students and residents in Cathays, safety remains an ongoing concern in this vibrant area.