Newport West MP Paul Flynn has defended Gwent Police's former chief constable, Carmel Napier, following a report that suggested crime in the area could be up to 8% higher than official figures. Flynn argued that police should focus on their duties rather than collating crime statistics.
The internal review, ordered by Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston, found no evidence that Napier manipulated crime figures, a charge she had denied. Flynn stated that the report exonerates her and called for an apology, saying the allegations were used as a pretext to force her resignation.
The review examined 50 incidents over a ten-day period where a crime appeared to have been committed but was not recorded. It found that more than half were wrongly classified as non-crimes. However, the report acknowledged the small sample size limits its value, estimating a potential 4% to 8% increase in actual crimes per year.
Johnston has declined to comment until the report is discussed by the Gwent Police and Crime Panel on Friday. Former Gloucestershire Police chief constable Tim Brain suggested that a single issue like this would not typically force a chief constable out, but it shows Johnston's willingness to confront difficult issues.
Flynn criticized the focus on statistics, saying, 'If they are so unreliable why don't we just forget about them and not tell our police to indulge in these mathematical gymnastics and just get on with the job of chasing criminals.'
