Revealed: The 5,820 crimes police did not tell you about
DYFED-POWYS Police are only telling the public about a tiny percentage of crimes reported to them, it has been revealed.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Post has discovered that out of more than 6,000 crimes reported to the force over a three-month period, details of just under three per cent of the incidents were put out to the press and public.
Incidents not mentioned in routine press calls include two teenagers being arrested after an alleged attack in Llwynhendy which left two people in hospital with stab wounds, three police officers being allegedly attacked as they responded to a call in Dafen and an appeal for witnesses after a violent attack left a Llanelli man needing 69 stitches.
Meanwhile, police bulletins put out news of the theft of a circular saw from a shed in Llanelli and a green fishing coat, chair and fishing bait box stolen from a vehicle at Swiss Valley Reservoir.
Between May and July this year there were 6,422 crimes reported across the force area.
During this time, the press office department at the force's headquarters released just 189 proactive press releases.
This number does not include information given to the press after a journalist had requested it.
A Dyfed-Powys Police press spokeswoman said neighbourhood policing teams were encouraged to highlight local issues in the press. She said: "The force press office oversees and manages those press releases that have an impact on the force as a whole.
"Normally, releases cover those cases where divisions are appealing for witnesses to critical or serious incidents, the public are alerted to any dangers which they can avoid, or their attention is drawn to incidents of interest.
"Local policing teams are encouraged to engage with the media regarding local issues.
"This accounts for a significant amount of the routine press contact within the force area, but this is not included in the figures for releases issued.
"In addition to proactive releases, the press office also undertakes a lot of research on behalf of journalists, both from within and outside the force area, in order to provide answers to their queries."
In Llanelli alone, there had been 1,225 crimes reported to officers during the three months.
The town's AM Helen Mary Jones said the main priority for police was to catch criminals — not keep the public informed.
She said: "There is a balance to be struck between the need for the public to be kept informed about crime, and the need for the police to concentrate on their main business — which of course is catching criminals and getting them to court.
"Nevertheless, I think the Post has done a good job in getting this information out — we need to know how many of those crimes were serious offences."
16 Comments
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by Bob, Kidwelly
Monday, November 02 2009, 9:14AM
“I think Eddie is being a bit disingenuous or thick here, choose whatever adjective floats your boat. No one is asking that every crime be reported by the police to the public, but if they are reporting crimes then it should be the serious not the frivolous that make it into the newspapers.
Otherwise, lawks a mercy, the poor old public might be conned into thinking the police are actually worth all the taxpayers¿ money they gobble up.”
by Teifion, LLandovery
Sunday, November 01 2009, 4:08PM
“Controversial as this may be and I may get flack for it but I believe it has to be said
I am for good things and against bad things!”
by Wayne, Swansea
Saturday, October 31 2009, 11:46PM
“Hang on a minute here Eddie uplands, whereas yes I agree with you on more money being spent on the NHS, and I also agree with John from llanelli about police costs from reporting everything!
But I ask you this, why do you direct your hate at the EP reporters about the NHS? they after all have jobs and pay taxes so in effect theyve already paid for the right to access the FOI, unlike these kids who leave school, never get a job,mother and father kids, then sponge off the GOVERNMENT for the rest of their lives!
Dont these people or spongers take up maternity beds, nhs doctors valueable time trying to get signed off on the sick, get their drugs for free from the Nhs, if clever enough get disability cars from the Nhs????, so please get down from your soapbox and realise that there are far worse things taking money from the NHS than a reporter accessing the Freedom of Information act!”
by Paul Jones, Swansea
Saturday, October 31 2009, 5:10PM
“Eddie, your comments don`t warrant a reply. You are too fixated on your own opinions to debate or comment on any subject.”
by eddie, uplands
Saturday, October 31 2009, 7:29AM
“Paul, I diagree
Public spending is public spending: it is all interrelated and connected.
And the Freedom of Information Act means anyone can make a request from any public body - any office to do with the government or NHS. and that DOES affect funding for the NHS.
The Act needs reform; it was not intended as free research for lazy journalist. It costs very many millions per year to the taxpayer. And taxpayer money is taxpayer money.
Not as much as the 300 million per year wasted on NHS management consultants though... Yes really, I do know my stuff.
This story is absurb - is the Post demanding that every crime gets a Press Release (so more money spent on paperwork and less on police on the beat?). The problem with hysterical hackery like this is no-one thinks anything through; if police were taken off the beat to do all these press releases, what would the Post say? It would be 'SHOCK HORROR - BOBBIES TAKEN OFF THE BEST TO DO PAPERWORK INSTEAD'. My goodness this newspaper is a load of the proverbial - AND utter hypocrisy too.
Phil - I make intelligent points and suggestions. You do not. So perhaps you should B off matey until you can make a point worth making. OK mun? Perhaps you left your brain in the bin years ago, eh...”
by phil, swansea
Friday, October 30 2009, 8:20PM
“Wayne,
you probably noticed Eddie &Geoff have opinions on all subjects.Wish the EP would censor them so others can make comments that make sense and leave their diatribes in the BIN where they belong.”
by Paul, Swansea
Friday, October 30 2009, 4:17PM
“FOI requests have absolutely no bearing on NHS funding, we contribute towards the police in our council tax. The budget for the NHS compared to the cost of FOI is insignificant, get a grip. Sometimes theses FOI requests uncover otherwise hidden issues e.g MPs` expenses. If you want to talk NHS, I have 28 years worth of experience to share!”
by george, swansea
Friday, October 30 2009, 4:12PM
“I think people are missing the point. Just think of how many complaints/crimes that are reported to the police and are never actioned.
Perfect example, when the police advise the public of a special operation targeting criminals in the area with 50+ arrests. Bet you didn't know that these criminals have been positively identified for crimes committed months even years prior!!!! No you didn't!!! The operation is just organised for positive reporting. Why don't they action intelligence earlier? there would be a lot less crime committed. Wouldn't there??”
by Paul, West Cross
Friday, October 30 2009, 4:08PM
“For another gem from the EP, using the FoI Act, see "Warning on scam at bank machines" Wednesday, October 14, 2009.”
by eddie, uplands
Friday, October 30 2009, 1:55PM
“Exactly John - so this non-story is actually a suggestion that the police should employ more staff to handle press releases and so less money will be there for police to solve crimes. BRILLIANT! Oh but then the evening post will complain about too much being spent on press releases.
It is obvious that some people here have no idea how much public money is being wasted on certain things: tens of millions on giving lazy journalists the option of wasting people's time an money by making thousands of requests under the freedom of information act (an act that needs URGENT reform and tweaking to stop this waste).
Paul and Wayne - nice to see you are so relaxed about the health service going short because taxes are being wasted on such nonsense as hacks misusing the freedom of information act by flooding the government with such requests.
And journalists DO NOT PAY for that - WE DO! Geddit now?
The point is: only major stories need press releases so most do not. So this is a non-story that is a waste of time, paper and taxpayers money. Every freedom of information request costs the tax payer hundreds of pounds. Yes, really. Now THAT is a story.”