Call for action on 3,300 crimes falling off radar
A Mid Wales politician has demanded Dyfed-Powys Police takes action after figures revealed 3,300 crimes go unreported every year.
AM Joyce Watson has accused the force's leadership of 'letting down the victims of abuse', after figures showed the crimes went unreported.
The Labour politician used a National Assembly for Wales debate to call for action to support victims of crime, who can be denied access to support services if crimes are not correctly recorded.
She warned Dyfed Powys’s police leadership and Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn to 'get a grip and stop letting down the victims of abuse'.
"I've been campaigning with the Women's Institute—both here, and in Aberystwyth, and across the region—within those two weeks, pushing the respect agenda into all communities," she said.
Message
"And the white ribbon campaign asks people to pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
“But that message is undercut if, when people do come forward, the police fail to act properly.
"So, I was a little bit dismayed last week to learn that, according to the Criminal Justice Inspectorates, 8,400 crimes have not been properly recorded by Dyfed-Powys and Gwent police. And I want to focus on Dyfed-Powys as it covers most of my region.
“Of the 3,300 reported crimes not recorded annually, 1,500 are violent crimes, 70 are sex offences, seven are vulnerable victim cases and 66 are cases of domestic abuse—nearly a quarter of all reported crime.
"In many cases, victims will only be able to access support services when a crime is recorded, so this is a serious failure, and I expect the police leadership and police and crime commissioners to get a grip and to stop letting down the victims of abuse."
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Richard Lewis said: "In a response at the time, the report recognises the good progress made by the force and the unequivocal desire to support victims of crime.
"There has been a programme of improvements to the way that crime is recorded, which is ongoing and is overseen by chief officers.
"This has already identified areas of good practice, recognised by HMICFRS and further steps have been taken since the inspection to improve the recording of domestic abuse through increased supervision and revision of processes."
