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Jane Mudd is the police and crime commissioner for Gwent. She represents Labour.

I was really pleased to see the UK Government announce funding measures in its budget this week to enable the police and the criminal justice system to crack down on shoplifting and retail crime.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to “stop shoplifting in its tracks”, removing legislation that means thefts worth under £200 are subject to less serious punishments. She also promised more funding to crack down on organised crime gangs which target retailers, and to provide more training to police officers and businesses.

The rise in shoplifting, and violence and abuse towards shop workers, is deeply concerning. Just last week the Office for National Statistics released figures that show incidents of shoplifting continue to rise significantly across the country. I am reassured therefore that the government is already following through with the commitments it made in the King’s Speech earlier this year to tackle these crimes.

The measures promise to make a real difference to businesses in Caerphilly and I look forward to working with the UK Government, and the government here in Wales, to deliver on these commitments for our residents and make a real difference to our communities.

Underage drinking

Gwent Police are supporting a new initiative in the Caerphilly borough to tackle underage drinking and protect the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

The Community Alcohol Partnership brings together the council, police, and education services, and aims to equip children and young people with the skills needed to resist underage drinking and the harmful behaviours associated with it. The partners are also working with retailers in Caerphilly to tackle underage sales.

Alcohol is often the root cause of so much of the crime and antisocial behaviour we see on our streets, and it is right that we do all we can to address this issue. I provide funding to the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service which aims to prevent reoffending by those whose drinking and substance misuse has led them to criminality, however, to make a real difference we must start at a young age.

This initiative will provide the early intervention needed to hopefully divert many children and young people from taking that path in the first place and will make a real difference to our communities in the long term. I look forward to feeding back on this in the future as the project develops.

Hate Crime Awareness Week

Last month we marked Hate Crime Awareness Week. Prior to election I campaigned on the doorsteps of Gwent with a manifesto pledge to address hate crime in our communities and now, as Police and Crime Commissioner, I want to reassure residents that this will continue to be a priority for me throughout my time in office.

I want our communities to be places where everyone can live their lives as themselves, free from fear and harm. Where everyone treats each other with the values of acceptance, tolerance, and respect.

When the behaviour of those who do not share these values crosses over into hate, we must take firm and appropriate action. This is one of the challenges of a growing and diverse population, and policing must rise to the challenge.

The police can only take action if they know an incident has taken place, so if you have been a victim of hate crime then please report it. If you don’t feel able to speak to the police, then there are other organisations that can help and support you. Visit my website for more details.