South Wales Police
Wales · Territorial force · 3,100 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,100
Staff
1,500
Area (sq miles)
813
Population served
1,350,000
About South Wales Police
The largest Welsh force covering Cardiff, Swansea and the South Wales valleys. Major events policing including international sports at the Principality Stadium. Good specialist unit access.
South Wales Police is responsible for policing a diverse area that includes urban and rural environments, covering major cities like Cardiff and Swansea, alongside the picturesque South Wales valleys. This territorial force operates within a strategic location, bordered by other police jurisdictions and significant transport corridors, including the M4 motorway that facilitates travel across the region. The force also has specified operational quirks due to its proximity to important sites, including the maritime environment of the Bristol Channel.
The force features a variety of specialist units designed to address specific community needs and operational demands. Notable capabilities include an armed response unit, a dedicated cyber crime team, a dog unit for enhanced operational support, and a proactive neighbourhood policing team that focuses on building community relations. This diversity in specialist units ensures that officers can effectively tackle a range of challenges across different environments.
In terms of current strategic priorities, South Wales Police is focused on tackling violence against women and girls, addressing serious and organised crime, and improving community safety through initiatives aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour and enhancing road safety. The force is also committed to strengthening partnerships within the community to foster a safer environment for residents and visitors alike.
Current priorities
- Tackling violence against women and girls
- Addressing serious and organised crime
- Improving community safety
- Reducing antisocial behaviour
- Enhancing road safety
Notable specialisms
Source: About South Wales Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,100
Staff
1,500
Total headcount
4,600
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
adequate
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
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 South Wales Police for 2026-08.
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
12,739 crimes recorded by South Wales 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 | 4,252 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,069 |
| Public order | 1,634 |
| Shoplifting | 1,245 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 927 |
| Vehicle crime | 701 |
| Other theft | 566 |
| Burglary | 344 |
| Drugs | 306 |
| Other crime | 269 |
| Robbery | 126 |
| Bicycle theft | 111 |
| Theft from the person | 96 |
| Possession of weapons | 93 |
| Total | 12,739 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving South Wales 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 South Wales Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join South Wales Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.