SOUTH Wales Police has made good progress in the way it records crime, an inspection has found.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found progress in all areas since the previous inspection in 2014.

The force was praised for “making concerted efforts to improve crime recording accuracy” and being “committed to ethical crime recording that is victim-focused and free from performance pressures of any kind”.

The organisation rated South Wales Police as ‘good’ at recording reported crime and also ranked its processes and systems for recording offences as ‘good’.

The force’s leadership and culture in its drive to meet national crime recording standards was ranked ‘outstanding’, and overall judgement was rated ‘good’.

Assistant chief constable Richard Lewis said: “Since 2014 we have fundamentally changed the way in which we record crime which has taken a huge amount effort and a change in culture which has been recognised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate.

“We are now recording crime that has never been captured before, developing a more accurate picture of crime levels in south Wales, placing the clearest possible focus on victims.”

He added: “More than nine out of 10 crimes reported to us are now recorded and, while there is more work to be done, the fact that the culture and leadership within the force has been graded as outstanding gives me the confidence that we can get even better.”

The inspection found the force achieves high levels of accuracy in recording sexual offences and meets national requirements to record reports of crime with 24 hours in most cases.

It was also found to be making good decisions when considering whether or not to cancel a recorded crime and has implemented all recommendations set out in the 2014 report, as well as making good progress against a national action plan developed to improve crime recording.

South Wales’ police and crime commissioner Alun Michael said: “The victim has been very much our focus in recent years, and that has resulted in a welcome and significant jump in victim satisfaction.”

He added: “That is encouraging because a lot of hard work has been done to ensure that the public know that our officers and staff are here to listen to victims and to respond to their needs.”