Substantial rise in police officer numbers
DYFEDPOWYS Police officer numbers are set to rise to around 1,200 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, community councillor Derrick Pugh asked: “Are you happy with their response from the UK Government as far as recruitment is concerned?”
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.
“We’re on track with that and the money is available in a grant, which we receive every six months from the Home Office.”
He added that by the end of the three-year cycle Dyfed-powys would have around 1,200 officers.
Mr Llywelyn 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 and changed 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 DyfedPowys, and Powys in particular, remains one of the safest counties throughout England and Wales to live in.”