Gwent Police
Wales · Territorial force · 1,450 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
1,450
Staff
700
Area (sq miles)
600
Population served
600,000
About Gwent Police
Covering Newport, the valleys and Monmouthshire in south-east Wales. A mixed force with urban challenges in Newport and valley communities, with affordable living and good access to Cardiff.
Gwent Police operates as a territorial force in South East Wales, encompassing a diverse geographical landscape that features urban environments in Newport alongside rural areas in the valleys and Monmouthshire. This mixed-force structure presents unique operational challenges, including managing both urban crime and rural issues such as agricultural theft. Gwent Police is strategically positioned near key transport links, providing quick access to Cardiff and enhancing its ability to tackle cross-border crime, particularly as it borders several other forces. The region also has historical significance, which can influence policing priorities and community interaction.
Notably, Gwent Police boasts several specialist units, including a Dog Unit focused on tracking and search capabilities, a Cyber Crime Team addressing digital threats, and an armed response unit prepared for high-risk operations. Recently, the force has emphasized priorities such as tackling violence against women and girls, enhancing road safety, and addressing drug-related crime. These targeted approaches underline the commitment of Gwent Police to engage with community safety and various social issues more effectively.
Current priorities
- Tackling violence against women and girls
- Enhancing road safety
- Addressing drug-related crime
- Engaging with community safety
Notable specialisms
Source: About Gwent Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
1,450
Staff
700
Total headcount
2,150
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
requires improvement
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Gwent Police is named in 1 recent IOPC investigation outcome or HMICFRS thematic report.
Policing inspection programme and framework 2020/21
2021-03-25 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 0 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 0% of records.
No stop-and-search records were published for Gwent Police for 2026-08.
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
7,131 crimes recorded by Gwent Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,264 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,549 |
| Public order | 845 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 768 |
| Shoplifting | 455 |
| Other theft | 330 |
| Vehicle crime | 256 |
| Burglary | 214 |
| Other crime | 185 |
| Drugs | 133 |
| Possession of weapons | 53 |
| Robbery | 45 |
| Bicycle theft | 27 |
| Theft from the person | 7 |
| Total | 7,131 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Gwent Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Gwent Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Gwent Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.