A Vale councillor has called on the police to tackle shoplifting in Penarth after police statistics showed an increase in crime in the town over the last year.

Conservative councillor for Plymouth ward in Penarth, Cllr Rhys Thomas, also called the amount of reports of violence against the person crimes that happened in Penarth this year "deeply disturbing".

South Wales Police data shows that there were 93 reports of crime across the whole town in August 2023 and that the number of reports for July 2024 went up to 110.

Plymouth was the ward that saw the biggest increase in reports of crime over that period of time, with violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour being the most reported crimes.

However, all three wards saw an increase in reports of crime in July 2024 compared to August 2023.

Police data shows that there were 52 violence against the person crimes reported in Penarth in August 2024.

Cllr Rhys Thomas said: "This sharp increase of violent crime in Penarth is deeply disturbing, and my thoughts are with the victims.

"There is no place for it in our country, and there must be a robust response from police and the criminal justice system to deter and punish offenders.

"I am also concerned by the persistent shoplifting in Penarth, and I want to see more action from the Police and Crime Commissioner to end the scourge of shoplifting which is having a terrible effect on businesses in the town".

There were 11 reports of violence against the person crimes in Plymouth ward.

South Wales Police said none of these 11 incidents involved any serious injuries.

They included:

• Three incidents of domestic harassment involving the same people
• Three incidents of harassment involving the same person
• One attempted theft/criminal damage to the front of a shop
• One report of domestic-related threats
• One report of coercive and controlling behaviour
• An argument between two people following a minor road traffic collision resulting in one common assault
• One public order offence

There has been an increase in crime across Penarth compared to about two and half years ago, according to South Wales Police statistics.

They show that there were 220 reports in Penarth in the period from Oct to December 2021 compared to 259 reports in the period from April to June 2024.