Gwent Police
Territorial police force for Gwent in south-east Wales.
Gwent Police arrested Dan Thomas in September 2026, prompting his resignation as Reform UK's leader in Wales on 15 September; he was bailed, has not been charged and says he has done nothing wrong.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Which parts of south-east Wales does Gwent Police cover?
Timeline for Gwent Police
Mentioned in: Rhun ap Iorwerth sets six goals for Wales
UK Local Elections 2026Background
Gwent Police polices five local authority areas in south-east Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen, home to about 576,700 people, from a headquarters at Llantarnam, near Cwmbran.
The force dates from 1967, when Monmouthshire Constabulary merged with Newport Borough Police. Mark Hobrough became Chief Constable in December 2024, and Jane Mudd serves as the elected Police and Crime Commissioner WHO holds the force to account.
Its territory includes Newport and Islwyn, the two halves of Casnewydd Islwyn, one of the six-member Senedd constituencies created for the 2026 election. That overlap brought the force into Welsh politics in September 2026, when it arrested Dan Thomas, a Reform UK MS for that constituency.
The force's arrest reshaped Welsh opposition
Officers from Gwent Police arrested Dan Thomas, WHO sits in the Senedd for Casnewydd Islwyn, in September 2026. Thomas stepped down as Reform UK's leader in Wales on 15 September. He was released on bail, no charge has followed, and he maintains he has done nothing wrong.
With Thomas on bail and uncharged, the investigation remains open. Its political effect arrived quickly: Reform's MSs chose Helen Jenner as leader on 21 September, a day before the Plaid Cymru government set out its programme for the Senedd term.
Which areas does Gwent Police cover?
Who is the chief constable of Gwent Police?
Where is Gwent Police headquarters?
