Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Fay Jones and Emma Hardy

Wednesday 31st January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) (Lab)]

9. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting victims of crime in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Fay Jones)]

I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of topics including on justice matters. The Government are committed to supporting victims. By 2025, we will have quadrupled funding in England and Wales for victim and witness support services from 2010 levels.

[Emma Hardy]

Nine in 10 crimes went unsolved in Wales in the last six months. What does the Minister say to the victims of the 82,000 unsolved crimes?

[Fay Jones]

I would point to the Government’s record on crime. Last week’s Office for National Statistics crime survey shows drops in all major crime types, with an average reduction of about 50%. Violent crime is down by 51%, neighbourhood crime is down by 48%, and theft is down by 46%. That is due in part to the fact that the Government have met their commitment to provide 20,000 extra police officers. My own force, Dyfed-Powys, has now got an extra 143 officers.