Branch chair responds to PCC’s Police and Crime Plan

25 April 2025

Dyfed Powys Police Federation chair Delme Rees has welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner’s plans to improve trust and confidence in local policing.

PCC Dafydd Llywelyn has set out what he wants to achieve in the next four years in his Police and Crime Plan but has also admitted that, despite the £42 million annual savings achieved since 2010/2011, more savings will be needed in the medium to longer term.

“The PCC has a vision for improving trust and confidence in the Force and, more widely, the criminal justice system and that is to be applauded,” says Delme.

Protect and involve communities

“He wants our communities to feel protected and involved and wants the Force to be seen as fair, respectful and impartial while also being representative of the public we serve.

“The Police and Crime Plan sets out his priorities, which include supporting victims, preventing victimisation, supporting safe communities by preventing harm and supporting a more effective justice system.

“As a Federation, we welcome these aims and we know our members will do their utmost to work to these priorities but the PCC also needs to be aware that there is only so much officers can do.

“Our members are already stretched, coping with increased demand through new and emerging crimes and the more complex nature of criminality too while also filling in the gaps in other services.

Pay and conditions

“As identified in last week’s report from the police inspectorate, investigators are already feeling overwhelmed, and we are facing a crisis in terms of retaining officers due to the real-terms decrease in their pay over recent years.”

The Force initiated a Service Review Team in 2022 to identify operational improvements and savings opportunities, putting a focus on innovation, productivity and efficiency savings.

But the PCC is also continuing to lobby for a longer-term, fair funding settlement for the Force.

He says: “I will also continue to make the case for Wales to receive a fair allocation of funding arising from any Comprehensive Spending Review, review of the police funding formula or other relevant distribution of resources.”

Delme has welcomed the PCC’s stance and says it echoes the Federation’s own efforts to convince the Government to commit to sustained, long-term investment in the police service.

Boom or bust

“For PCCs and chief officers to effectively plan for the years ahead they need to know the funding they will receive,” he explains, “As it stands, it seems to almost be a ‘boom or bust’ approach. For example, the previous Government funded a three-year programme to increase police officers nationwide by 20,000.

“We did see an influx of new officers through that initiative which ended in March 2023 but now we are struggling to maintain our numbers and that is due at least in part to the underfunding of the police service, the pressures officers are under, the failure of successive governments to pay officers according to the dangers and challenges of their role and low morale among the workforce due to feeling undervalued and disrespected by politicians and the public.”

Read the Police and Crime Plan 2025 – 2029.

READ MORE: Download the latest branch magazine.