Liberal Democrats call for car theft crackdown as new figures show 74% of cases unsolved in South Wales

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for a national “car theft crackdown” after new figures revealed that almost three-quarters of car thefts in South Wales were left unsolved last year.

Data published by the House of Commons Library shows that 74% of car theft offences in the South Wales police force area went unsolved in the last year, raising serious concerns about police capacity and the growing scale of organised vehicle crime across the region.

The figures show a poor picture across Wales. In the Gwent police force area, 69% of car theft cases went unsolved, compared with 51% in North Wales and 38% in Dyfed-Powys.

Car theft has become an increasingly organised crime, with many stolen vehicles rapidly dismantled for parts or trafficked across borders within hours of being taken. Across South Wales, both urban and rural communities are being affected, with dense residential areas and commuter hotspots in cities and towns targeted by organised gangs, while more rural communities face longer response times and fewer specialist resources.

Criminals are exploiting major road links such as the M4 to move stolen vehicles quickly out of the region, making it harder for overstretched police forces to disrupt organised car crime networks.

The Liberal Democrats say the figures underline the urgent need for better coordination between police forces and national agencies. They are calling for the creation of a specialist car crime unit based at the National Crime Agency to bring together:

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data
• Insurance and vehicle registration records
• Intelligence from police forces and border control

The proposed unit would focus on disrupting organised car theft gangs, improving vehicle recovery rates, and increasing the proportion of cases resulting in charges.

The party argues that tackling car theft effectively would not only reduce crime but also help bring down insurance premiums, improve community safety, and restore public confidence in policing.

Commenting, Sam Bennett, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea & Gower) and Swansea City Councillor, said:

“Car theft is a real problem across Wales, and it is deeply worrying to see how many cases are going unsolved. Victims have a right to justice rather than unanswered questions, they deserve so much better.

“The previous Conservative government betrayed our communities with years of brutal cuts to local policing, and now the Labour government is turning a blind eye to this growing epidemic.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for a car theft crackdown to finally catch the criminals who for too long have been getting away scot-free.”

ENDS