Police service precept cut

A proposal by their Police and Crime Commissioner to lower the council tax precept by 5%, which we reported last week, has been agreed by the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel.

The new policing precept at council tax band D will be £200.07 (down from £210.60) – a decrease of 20.3p per week. This, along with Government money and a contribution from reserves, will deliver total 2015-16 Dyfed-Powys police and crime funding of £95.6m.

Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “This will lighten the load on the hard-pressed householders of an economically poor region. It’s been made possible by tough decisions I’ve taken to make Dyfed-Powys Police more efficient – and by the hard work of the Chief Constable, his officers and staff.

“The result will be more - and improved - policing for less money. We’ll have 100,000 extra hours on the beat this year, we’re on track to make £8.8m in savings by next year and now we’re giving some of that back to the public.

“My decision brings our precept more in line with others in Wales. Last year the people of Dyfed-Powys paid the second highest rate in Wales – now I believe they’ll pay the joint lowest.”