Types of weapons used in burglaries 267/2024

FOI Reference: 267/2024

Request:

I am seeking data on the types of weapons used during robberies in convenience stores. I believe there is a strong public interest for this information to be published due to the safety risk posed to both businesses and members of the public.

Please can you supply the following information:

1)      The number of businesses who were victims of reported robberies for the periods of 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022 and 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.

2)      The key search terms I am seeking in relation to the type of business are; convenience store, corner shop, grocery store, supermarket, newsagent, symbol group, tobacconist, off licence and independent retailer.

The key search terms I am seeking in relation to the weapon used are guns, knives, needles, unarmed and blunt weapons (baseball bats, clubs, etc).

3)      Could you also provide the name the businesses traded under and their address.

4)      Whether the robber was arrested and their conviction/sentence.

Ideally, I would like these figures broken down month-on-month.

 

Response 1 & 2:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022: Month Volume Weapon Type Type of Business Jan-22 0 - - Feb-22 0 - - Mar-22 0 - - Apr-22 0 - - May-22 0 - - Jun-22 0 - - Jul-22 0 - - Aug-22 0 - - Sep-22 0 - - Oct-22 1 Broken glass bottle Convenience Store Nov-22 1 Knife Convenience Store Dec-22 0 - -   1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023: Month Volume Weapon Type Type of Buisiness Jan-23 0 - - Feb-23 0 - - Mar-23 0 - - Apr-23 0 - - May-23 0 - - Jun-23 0 - - Jul-23 0 - - Aug-23 0 - - Sep-23 0 - - Oct-23 1 Hammer Betting Shop Nov-23 0 - - Dec-23 0 - -

 

 

Response 3:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Oct-22	Broken glass bottle	Convenience Store	PREMIER STORES, 169, CWMAMMAN ROAD, GLANAMMAN, AMMANFORD, CARMARTHENSHIRE, SA181EJ
Nov-22	Knife	Convenience Store	PREMIER STORES 29, KING STREET, CARMARTHEN, CARMARTHENSHIRE, SA31 1BS
Oct-23	Hammer	Betting Shop	DONE BOOKMAKERS, HIGH STREET, HAVERFORDWEST, SA61 2DA

 

Response 4:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Suspect was arrested in all 3 cases: -          1 offence was finalised as `Outcome 15’ (No conviction / sentence). -          1 Charged and Convicted – 16 months sentence. -          1 Investigation ongoing (No conviction / sentence yet).

                                                                                                           

It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.

Furthermore, it should also be noted that Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 10/05/2024)