Funding boost for neighbourhood policing

15 April 2025

An extra 33 officers will be recruited to boost neighbourhood policing within the Force area over the next year as part of a £200 million Government initiative.

Dyfed Powys will receive just over £1.4 million of the Government’s funding and is planning to use the money solely for police officers, whereas some others are splitting the funds to also pay for PCSOs and Specials.

Details of the initial funding for 2025 to 2026 were announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last week, marking the first stage of a four-year programme which will see 13,000 extra police officers, PCSOs and Specials brought into neighbourhood policing roles by the end of this Parliament.

Delme Rees, chair of Dyfed Powys Police Federation, has welcomed the funding and the commitment to neighbourhood policing.

“As we are all aware, neighbourhood policing has been hit by the under-investment in policing during the austerity years,” he explained.

“Sadly, many of our dedicated neighbourhood police officers were pulled away from their communities to meet the ever-increasing demand forces faced at a time when officer numbers were falling and we know the public have missed seeing a police presence in their communities.

Recruiting

“This cash injection into neighbourhood policing is welcome, but recruiting these new officers is only part of the story. We also need to see the Government address the officer retention crisis that is putting forces under huge pressure.

“That will involve a wholesale review of police pay and the police pay review processes. As it stands, officers do not feel their pay reflects the challenges, pressures and dangers of their role resulting in them suffering with low morale, and all too often, choosing to leave policing.”

He continued: “The recruitment and initial training process is costly for forces but that investment is a complete waste of money if we lose new recruits and, at the other end of officers’ service, we are losing the experience gained over many years.” 

Delme says the Force must ensure that the extra officers recruited through the new funding remain in neighbourhood policing roles and do not get pulled into other hard-pressed teams or departments.

Anti-social behaviour

As part of the Government’s plans and under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, it is planned that every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have dedicated teams spending their time on the beat, with guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas at peak times such as Friday and Saturday nights. 

Communities will have named, contactable officers to tackle the issues facing their communities.

There will also be a dedicated anti-social behaviour lead in every force, working with residents and businesses to develop tailored action plans.

In a letter to all chief constables, Ms Cooper said: “These measures will make a considerable difference to the service communities receive from their neighbourhood policing teams. They will ensure consistency across England and Wales so that everyone receives a first class service in their area, reversing the damaging cutbacks in neighbourhood policing seen in recent years.”

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