Dyfed-Powys Police should have 70 extra police officers by the end of 2021
Dyfed-Powys police officer numbers are set to rise to around 1,200 during by the end of 2021, but that only takes the force back to 2010 levels of staff.
At a meeting of the Powys Public Service Board (PSB), Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn was asked how the recruitment drive was going.
A year ago, the UK Government revealed a commitment to pump £750 million into police forces around the UK.
This would be to recruit 20,000 police officers over three years.
At the PSB meeting, Trefeglwys community councillor Derrick Pugh, who represents Montgomeryshire community councils on the board, asked: “Are you happy with the response from the UK Government as far as recruitment is concerned?”
Councillor Pugh wondered how many more police officers Dyfed-Powys would have when the recruitment drive finishes.
Mr Llywelyn said: “The Prime Minister has been keen to recruit 20,000 additional officers, but we must remember in comparison to 2010, this just brings us back to that level.
“The increase for us is around 70 over the next three years.
Funding
“We’re on track with that and the money is available in a grant, which we receive every six months from the Home Office.”
Mr Llywelyn added that by the end of the three-year cycle Dyfed Powys police would have around 1,200 officers.
He said: “That is the level we had in 2010. There is an element of giving with one hand and taking away with the other.
“We are crying out for more core funding and over the last decade we have relied on the council tax precept to plug any gaps.”
Mr Llywelyn also explained that it was unlikely that the public would perceive a greater number of bobbies on the beat, at the end of the three-year period.
This is because policing has evolved to deal with more sophisticated criminals, and a “blended workforce” is now needed.
More specialist police officers are needed to deal with safeguarding of vulnerable adults as well as cyber crime.
Mr Llywelyn added: “They won’t always be visible, but they are still working very hard to ensure Dyfed-Powys and Powys in particular remains one of the safest counties throughout England and Wales to live in.”
