Savings force changes to Mid Wales policing

Day-to-day policing in Mid Wales is set to change in a bid to save £5.8 million, it was revealed today. Dyfed-Powys Police has called in experts to assess how staff and officers work.

The changes are due to be brought in over the next month.

They will include working in one force area - as opposed to the current four of Powys, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

Local policing will also be changed but force chiefs insist residents will not be short changed by the move.

Deputy Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said: "To make the savings we need to make over the next four years we have to streamline the way we work.

"In a recent Ipsos Mori survey carried out on behalf of the force, most residents who responded told us that they were willing to pay a little bit extra a week to protect the front line and make changes to our management structure to save money.

"From the beginning of the month we are putting interim arrangements in place for our new operational structure for the force that will enhance day-to-day service delivery."

She added: "Front line officers will not be affected by these changes. It is business as usual for our day-to-day operation.

"We will be moving to one policing area, instead of four, by the first quarter of 2012 that will be underpinned by a streamlined and more efficient business support structure."

She said the force had identified a potential £5.8 million of savings.

"It hasn't been easy and our staff have worked hard to identify areas where we can save money through improving or changing the way that we work," she said.

"It is a very challenging time for us and we still need to make an additional saving of £3.4 million."