Seventy new Dyfed-Powys Police officers will be recruited by the end of 2021, but it will only return numbers to 2010 levels when austerity started to bite.
At a meeting of the Powys Public Service Board (PSB), Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, said that numbers would return to 1,200 under part of the UK Government’s commitment to pump £750 million into Police Forces around the UK.
Trefeglwys community councillor, Derrick Pugh, who represents Montgomeryshire community councils on the board, asked: “Are you happy with their response from the UK Government as far as recruitment is concerned?”
Cllr Pugh asked 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. 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, said: “That is the level (1,200) 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 cybercrime.
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.”
When the campaign was launched in September 2019, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “Getting more police on our streets is an absolute priority and I’m delighted our recruitment campaign for 20,000 new officers is now under way.
“I have been clear from day one I will give the police the resources they need and I am delivering on that commitment.
“They have my full support and together we will cut crime, get criminals off the streets and keep people safe.”