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

There were 3,932 reported offences during 2017, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics.

That’s down by 9.7 per cent on the previous year, when 4,354 incidents were recorded.

That means that 53 out of every 1,000 residents experienced a crime during 2017, below the England and Wales average of 81.

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.

Despite nationally rising, gun and knife possession offences in Ceredigion have dropped by three, to 23 incidents.

Household burglaries have dropped by 10.6 per cent.

There were 127 break-ins during 2017, compared with 142 over the previous year.

There have been no homicides, the term used for murder or manslaughter.

Theft, one of the most high volume crimes, has decreased by 11 per cent. Drugs-related offences dropped by 28.9 per cent.

Criminal damage, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone down, from 728 incidents in 2016, to 619 in the latest figures.

While violence with injury, which includes assault, GBH and wounding, has dropped, however it is tough to judge as police recording in this area has improved over the last couple of years.

Similarly sexual crime statistics are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases.

In Ceredigion there were 179 incidents recorded in 2017, an 18 per cent decrease on the previous year, when 217 crimes were reported.

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