Annual Crime Figures Published

Recorded crime in south Wales rose by 5.2% in the 12 months up to September, the latest annual figures have revealed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This rise continues to reflect the way in which crimes are now recorded – crimes which were previously not captured are now being “crimed at source” revealing a more accurate picture of crime levels in the South Wales Police force area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prior to the change to “recording at source”, reports were investigated before a decision was made on whether to record as a crime. Now, in South Wales every report is automatically logged as a crime, and is then investigated by officer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The recent rise is also believed to demonstrate an increased willingness by victims to report crimes – particularly in cases of sexual offences and violence (up by 19% and 22% respectively). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pattern is consistent throughout the force’s four basic Command Units (BCU’s) which cover four separate regions of south Wales, and other forces throughout the UK have also recorded a similar trend, affirming this belief that public confidence in reporting crime has greatly improved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The national overall crime figure for this period rose by 8.8%, with violence against the person offences rising by 22%, and sexual offences rising by 12% nationally. All but three UK forces recorded a rise in reported sexual offences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alun Michael, Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales said: “The victim has been very much our focus in recent years, and that has resulted in a welcome and significant jump in victim satisfaction in South Wales. That is encouraging because a lot of hard work has been done to ensure that the public know that our officers and staff are here to listen to victims and to respond to their needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is clear that people are now more confident than ever to report crime, and therefore we must expect some increase in our crime figures. And we are encouraging that positive trend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, our team is committed to preventing and detecting crime and our aim, as ever, is to work with our numerous partners in health, local government, education and the voluntary sector to respond to offences when they happen but also to reduce offending and to make sure that the communities we serve are safe and confident in the places where they live and work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​