Gwent one of the safest places in the UK but no room for complacency

“Gwent is one of the safest places to live and work in the UK but we mustn’t be complacent as lockdown lifts.”

This is the message from Jeff Cuthbert, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, following the release of the Office for National Statistics crime data for the last quarter of 2020.

The figures released for October – December 2020 show that Gwent continues to have one of the lowest levels of recorded crime in the UK compared to other police force areas, and that overall levels of crime have fallen since the same period in 2019.

It is consistent with the wider UK picture which has seen a fall in recorded crime since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.

Jeff Cuthbert said: “Gwent continues to have one of the lowest levels of recorded crime, including one of the lowest levels of violent crime, in the UK.

“We have seen a rise in recorded drug offences consistently over the last year and I am reassured that this reflects the results of proactive policing and successful operations carried out by Gwent Police to tackle serious and organised crime.

“Over the last few months I have been speaking to residents who are understandably concerned about a rise in crime and antisocial behaviour as lockdown measures ease.

“I want to reassure residents that Gwent Police are prepared for this with extra patrols in key areas and they are liaising closely with businesses and communities that may be affected. Gwent Police’s newly formed We Don’t Buy Crime Team is also providing proactive crime prevention and target hardening advice to residents and business to help them avoid becoming targets for crime.

“Gwent remains one of the safest places in the UK but we will never be complacent. By working together with Gwent Police and partners we will continue to create a safer Gwent for all.”

Detective chief superintendent Nicky Brain, Gwent Police’s head of crime, said: “A drop in the level of overall crime in Gwent is always encouraging to see.

“We remain committed to providing protection and reassurance to our communities so that they continue to be safe places to live and work.

“We’re determined to keep our streets as free from crime as possible and our work never stops in that regard.

“The health crisis has presented many challenges to how we police and how we keep the most vulnerable members of our communities safe.

“I would like to thank the public for their support during this time and for the part they’ve played in keeping themselves and others safe.”