FOI 1171/26

REQUEST

 

For the period 1 January 2000 to the most recent date available, please provide:

 

1. The number of recorded parcel theft offences, by calendar year.

 

2. The number of arrests made in connection with parcel theft offences, by calendar year.

 

3. For those arrests, please provide the offence(s) for which individuals were arrested, together with the number of arrests under each offence category.

 

4. The number of charges brought in connection with parcel theft offences, by calendar year.

 

5. For those charges, please provide the offence(s) with which individuals were charged, together with the number of charges under each offence category.

 

6. The number of convictions resulting from parcel theft investigations, by calendar year.

 

7. For those convictions, please provide the offence(s) for which individuals were convicted, together with the number of convictions under each offence category.

 

8. The number of out-of-court disposals resulting from parcel theft investigations, including cautions, community resolutions and any other disposal types, by calendar year.

 

9. The five towns, cities or postcode districts within your force area that have recorded the highest number of parcel theft offences since 1 January 2020.

 

10. The most recent annual figure available for parcel theft offences.

 

Clarification

 

I mean 2020. Thank you.

 

RESPONSE

 

Occurrence Data:

 

A search has been completed using our crime and incident recording system (Niche RMS) for all offences recorded between 1^st January 2020 and 24^th September 2026 using the Home Office Offence Code: 42/42/1/TH68004: Theft of mail bag or postal packet (S.1 (pt) Theft Act 1968).

 

 

Arrest Data:

 

A custody search has been completed using our crime and incident recording system (Niche RMS) for all arrests recorded between 1^st January 2020 and 24^th September 2026 using the Arrest Reason Description: Theft of mail bag / postal packet (recordable).

Question 1

 

Year	Count of Occurrence Number
2020	21
2021	69
2022	69
2023	75
2024	40
2025	63
2026	81
Grand Total	418

 

Question 2

 

Year	Number of arrests
2020	0
2021	0
2022	0
2023	0
2024	0
2025	4
2026	1
Grand Total	5

 

Question 3, 4 and 5

 

All arrests were for ‘Theft of mail bag / postal packet’. In relation to arrests, 5 charges were made.

 

Question 6, 7

 

South Wales Police do not hold data on convictions. Under Section 16 - Duty to provide advice and assistance, you may wish to submit this part of your request to HM Courts & Tribunals Service) using the link provided below: 

 

HM Courts & Tribunals Service - GOV.UK

 

Question 8

 

There were no other ‘out-of-court’ disposals. Please see ‘Outcome’ Table below.

Please note the outcome 00: Not recognised as an official outcome relates to crimes that have not yet been finalised and remain under investigation.

 

Outcome	Count of Occurrence Number
00: Not recognised as an official outcome	3
01: Charged/summonsed	3
01a: Charged/summonsed [alternate]	1
14: Evidential difficulties [S not identified]	14
15: Evidential difficulties [VS]	15
16: Evidential difficulties [VDNS]	26
18: Investigation complete [NSI]	355
20: Further action by other agency [V Aware]	1
Grand Total	418

 

 

Please see below the meanings of the acronyms included in the outcome data: 

 

SUA – Suspect under age

S ill – Suspect ill

VW dead/ill – Victim or witness dead/ill

S not identified – Suspect not identified

VS - Victim Supports

VDNS – Victim does not support

NSI – No suspect identified

V aware – Victim aware

CPS – Crown Prosecution Service

NIPI – Not in public interest

 

Please note, the number of those arrested and charged with ‘Theft of mail bag/ postal packet’ and the number of occurrences with the outcome of ‘charged’ is different. As the occurrence linked to the arrest might be recorded differently.

 

Question 9

 

Section

CARDIFF BAY

CATHAYS

FAIRWATER

CANTON

RHONDDA

 

Question 10

 

Already answered within question 1-9