CRIME has risen across Torfaen by around 22 per cent compared to last year, including sharp increases in robberies and public order offences.

A council report shows the amount of crimes recorded between April and September, 2018, was up by 21.7 per cent on the same six-month period the previous year.

This remains slightly lower than the average rise across the Gwent Police force area though, which was 24.9 per cent.

Pontypool saw an increase of 22.7 per cent, from 1856 crimes to 2278 in the period last year, while in Cwmbran the figure was slightly lower, at 20.8 per cent.

Public order offences rose the most dramatically, with a rise of 117.6 per cent across the borough, from 370 to 805.

Robberies also increased by 90.9 per cent, from 11 to 21.

But the crime recorded the most was 'violence without injury - 1,172 of these incidents were recorded in the six-month period, compared to 794 in the previous year.

A council report set to be discussed by Torfaen councillors on Wednesday says: "There are a number of reasons for the rise in the crime types of violence without injury and public order offences ranging from a marked increase (locally, regionally and nationally) in the amount of online type crimes including harassment and stalking which is often undertaken via social media.

"Improvements in the way we monitor and record crime has seen significant increases in public order offences which were traditionally ‘masked’ within ASB (anti-social behaviour) incidents.

"This has seen an upward trend in crime whilst ASB levels have dramatically fallen."

Alongside these rises, the amount of anti-social behaviour incidents reduced by 40.6 per cent.

Drug offences were also down by 32.8 per cent, while vehicle crime and possession of weapons incidents also saw reductions of more than 20 per cent.

Shoplifting has also reduced due to a "more targeted approach" and by working with retail stores in Cwmbran town centre, the report says.

The report says the areas having the biggest effect on crime levels within the borough are the Llantarnam and Abersychan wards.

The figures will be discussed as part of an update on the Wales Audit Office’s proposal for the delivery of community safety to be improved across Wales, specifically in relation to Torfaen.