‘£1m policing bill for M4 relief road protests’

GWENT Policing potential protests against the proposed M4 relief road could cost a Welsh police force £1 million next year, it has been warned. The “M4-related” pressures feature within the force’s 2019-20 budget proposals, which include plans to raise police precepts by 6.99%. Chief constable Julian Williams says the increase, which would generate around £1 million, will help protect frontline services struggling with demand. The force faces a £3.5 million funding shortfall with further savings of £791,000 – including the closure of front-desk services at police stations – aiming to plug the gap. “It’s no secret that demand for policing, and its complexity, is increasing and to deal with that you need assets,” Mr Williams told the Gwent Police and Crime Panel. “We’ve got fewer officers than we’ve ever had because we can’t afford it, and crimes are reaching levels they’ve probably never been before.” The meeting heard that crimes reported in the region increased by 20% last year, with the force dealing with 210 emergency calls a day – one every six minutes. Maria Henry, who worked within the force for 27 years before becoming chair of the Gwent Police Federation, described the rising level of crime as “immense”, adding: “We’re struggling now, and I’m concerned it’s going to get worse.”