Violent Crime Surge in South Wales

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2008

Commenting on figures today showing that violent offences against the person have risen by 12% over the last year in South Wales, the highest increase anywhere in the UK, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said:

"These figures are deeply troubling and suggest that London is not the only place with a growing violent crime problem.

"There were nearly 2,500 more violent offences committed in South Wales this year compared to last year. The appalling stabbing in Cardiff city centre last weekend is another indicator of the nature of the problem we are facing in Cardiff and across the South of Wales.

"It is also extremely worrying that South Wales was the only police force area in the UK where total crime has risen. The number of recorded burglaries, sexual offences and drug offences are showing significant increases.

"With the economy on the rocks and thousands of Welsh jobs on the line, the Government and the police will need to extra vigilant to ensure that crime levels in South Wales do not spiral out of control as they did under the Tories.

"I will be writing to the South Wales Police Chief Constable about the rise in violent crime as a matter of urgency."