Local business crime doubles

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request from a local Assembly Member has found that there has been an alarming 154% increase in business crime in Newtown over the past year.

Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, asked for the information after being contacted by business owners in the town, who expressed concern at the escalating rates of crime.

In 2016/17, 127 crimes were recorded against business premises in Newtown compared with 50 in 2015/16, and the number of crimes against business premises in Dyfed-Powys as a whole has more than tripled with 3,771 crimes recorded in 2016/17 compared with 1,125 in 2015/16.

After receiving the response to his FOI request, Mr George said: “The significant increase in crimes against business premises in Newtown and the whole Dyfed-Powys area is a worrying trend which must be tackled.

“Crime against businesses in Newtown has more than doubled and Dyfed-Powys has seen the figure more than triple – an alarming development.

“Business owners in Newtown have contacted me to complain about the escalating crime rate which is destroying livelihoods and resulting in businesses deciding to close for good.

“I have asked the Chief Constable and the Police & Crime Commissioner to meet with me to discuss the reasons for this significant increase in reported crime and the actions which they propose to take to resolve the underlying issues which have caused the crime rate to spike.” 

Newtown South County Councillor, Neil Morrison added:

“The increase in crime rates against Newtown businesses is alarming. The figures will include town centre businesses, and business based on industrial estates in the town. I think it’s important that we get to the root of why the crime rate figures have risen as they have.”