The Welshpool man who wants to become Police Crime Commissioner today launched a scathing attack on the current Dyfed Powys chief.

Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Church has questioned whether Christopher Salmon is the worst Police Commissioner in Wales and said he was more interested in building his own personal empire.

Mr Church claims figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the Police & Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys has the worst record for rising crime statistics in Wales.

The Taxpayers Alliance have also revealed that he is one of the top six most expensive Commissioners in the UK.

Mr Church said: “With the Police & Crime Commissioner elections coming up this May the appalling record of our Police and Crime Commissioner is plain for all to see. Dyfed Powys has traditionally had a low level of crime, but these statistics show that under Christopher Salmon’s leadership, it is fast catching up with our neighbours.”

Christopher Salmon also heads up one of top six most costly offices per head of population in the UK, costing over £2.30 for each person on the electorate, compared to a UK average of £1.60 (source taxpayers alliance).

“We have a Police & Crime Commissioner who is more interested in building up his own personal empire than he is with getting to grips the Dyfed Powys force," said Mr Church.

"He should be cutting back on the costs of his own office, freeing up resources for hard pressed front line police officers and drop plans to extend his empire even further into the fire service.”

Mr Church says Office of The National Statistics show that all recorded crime in Dyfed Powys rose by 9%, against a Wales average of 4%, the highest increase in Wales.

Violence against people rose by 28%, against a 19% average; sexual offence rose by 53%, against a 19% average; theft rose by 4% against a Wales fall of 4%; burglary rose by 6% against a Wales fall of -8%; domestic burglary rose by 16% against a fall of -5% while criminal damage and arson rose by 15% against a Wales average rise of 1%.