CRIME levels in Ceredigion have reduced by almost a fifth, according to the latest police recorded figures.

There were 3,785 reported offences between April 2017 and March 2018, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. That’s down by 13.3 per cent on the previous year, when 4,366 incidents were recorded.

That means there was a rate of 52 crimes per 1,000 residents during 2017-18, below the England and Wales average of 82.

The statistics are based on crimes reported to the police, and the ONS urges caution in interpreting some of these figures. Some offences go unreported while others may be more numerous due to a change in the focus of the police or greater public attention.

However the ONS believes crimes such as burglary and car theft, which are generally well reported and recorded, have genuinely increased.

Caroline Youell, from the ONS, said: “Most people don’t experience crime. The figures show a fairly stable picture in England and Wales for most crime types. It is too early to say if this is a change to the long-term declining trend.

“We have seen continued increases in some theft offences such as vehicle-related theft and burglary, while computer viruses have fallen.

“There have been increases in some lower-volume ‘high-harm’ offences such as homicide and knife crime, consistent with rises over the past three years. However, the latest rise in gun crime is much smaller than previously seen.”

Despite nationally rising, gun and knife possession offences in Ceredigion have dropped by seven, to 18 incidents.

There have been no homicides, a murder or manslaughter. Theft, one of the most high volume crimes, has decreased by 15 per cent. Drugs related offences dropped by 31.6 per cent.

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