ALMOST 11,000 crimes were recorded in Gwent between April and June this year, a reduction of almost 10 per cent, according to Gwent Police Authority figures.

Figures in a performance report due to be discussed by police authority members this week show there were a total of 10,832 crimes recorded between April and June this year, 1,171 fewer than the 12,003 recorded between April and June 2010.

The number of dwelling burglaries fell by 901 incidents (30 per cent) from 3,003 between April and June 2010 to 2,102 between April and June this year.

Of the 10,832 crimes recorded 3,246 have been detected, resulting in a detection rate of 30 per cent, compared to 29.4 per cent for the same period last year.

There were 11,200 incidents of anti-social behaviour – which is recorded separately from crimes – between April and June this year, 4,923 (30 per cent) fewer than the 16,123 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

The report, which is due to be discussed on Thursday, concludes: “Gwent Police has no doubt made further improvements thus far, however, we must now put this into perspective nationally when we review the benchmarking exercise in early August to see if we aremoving in the right direction at a faster rate than our peers.”