THE initial reaction of most of our readers to Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston’s response to today’s critical inspection report will be ‘well he would say that wouldn’t he?’

He is angry with the outcome and some of the recommendations following the latest inspection, arguing it does not accurately reflect the good work going on in the Gwent force.

And he says he does not accept the report of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

That said, it is a fairly damning inspection and there are areas, particularly in the realm of domestic violence, where the force must improve.

But where we do have some sympathy with Mr Johnston is in his claim that the force is being over-inspected.

Today’s report is the result of the 12th inspection of Gwent Police in nine months.

The force has now received 89 recommendations, each no doubt carrying cost implications.

In fact each inspection involves hundreds of hours of police staff and officers’ time with this year’s costing an estimated £150,000, money which would have been far better spent in the real fight against crime.

It does seem odd a force recently praised for improving the way crime is recorded so it more accurately represents the true figure, is then penalised for presiding over what would be an inevitable apparent increase in crime.