Dyfed–Powys Police

Dyfed–Powys Police (Welsh: Heddlu Dyfed–Powys) is the territorial police force in Wales policing Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire (which make up the former administrative area of Dyfed) and the unitary authority of Powys (covering Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire). The force was formed in 1968, with the merger of the Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire Constabulary, the Pembrokeshire Constabulary and the Mid Wales Constabulary .

Dyfed–Powys Police
Heddlu Dyfed–Powys
Agency overview
Formed1968
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionCeredigion, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Powys unitary authority areas, UK
Map of Dyfed–Powys Police's jurisdiction.
PopulationApprox 500,000
Operational structure
HeadquartersCarmarthen
Police Constables1,112[1]
Police and Crime Commissioner responsible
Agency executive
Divisions4
Facilities
Stations45 as of 2011
Website
www.dyfed-powys.police.uk
RQ12653R

The Dyfed–Powys region, headquarters in Carmarthen and covering an area of 3,360 square miles (8,700 km2) with over 350 miles (560 km) of coastline, includes many remote rural communities and a number of old industrial areas that are currently experiencing significant change and redevelopment. The population is under 500,000, although it is boosted each year with many tourist visitors.

The workforce consists of 1,159 full-time police officers, 98 Special Constables and 140 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), 38 designated officers and 589 police staff.[3] It is the eleventh smallest police force in the United Kingdom in terms of number of police officers. The territory it covers is the largest police area in England and Wales and the third largest in the United Kingdom, after Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Proposed merger

On 6 February 2006, the Home Secretary Charles Clarke proposed to merge Dyfed–Powys Police with North Wales Police, South Wales Police and Gwent Police, to form one strategic force for all of Wales.[4] Fierce opposition to the proposed changes followed from many quarters during the summer of 2006. John Reid, the new Home Secretary from 5 May 2006, abandoned the proposed restructuring of the police service in England and Wales.

Budget cuts

In 2010, it was announced that most UK public services would be subject to budget cuts over the next five years. Dyfed–Powys Police is one of these public services faced with this problem and had to find savings of £34m between 2010 and 2015, and £13m in each subsequent year. Chief Constable Ian Arundale warned that there was going to be a "significant impact" on the front line.

Arundale said he accepted that cuts had to be made in the Dyfed–Powys force area and hoped to achieve this through natural wastage and voluntary redundancies.[5] However, in 2011 the police service announced the recruitment of 39 new officers, 18 Police Constables and 21 Special Constables, showing commitment to the communities it serves during difficult financial times.[6]

Retirement of Chief Constable Terry Grange

From March 2000 to 19 November 2007 the Chief Constable was Terry Grange. Following a complaint, and during an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into financial irregularities, Grange retired with immediate effect. Dyfed–Powys Police Authority said it had accepted with regret his retirement with immediate effect, adding that Grange "had indicated that he had allowed his private life to interfere with his professional role. This has led the police authority to consider the chief constable's position and it was considered to be appropriate to accept his retirement."[7] The IPCC continues its investigation.[8] In newspapers of 25 November, it emerged that Mr Grange was accused of letting his personal relationship with a judge interfere with the force's handling of child abuse claims against the judge – Mr Grange was the ACPO spokesperson on child abuse issues.[9]

Special Constabulary

Dyfed–Powys Police service, through late 2010 and early 2011 re-structured its Special Constabulary. This is the part-time volunteer section; its officers are known as Special Constables (all hold the office of Constable no matter what their rank) or informally as Specials.[10]

The current Special Constabulary management structure is:

  • Special Constabulary Lead – A regular Superintendent
  • Special Constabulary Co-Ordinator
  • Special Constabulary, Chief Officer[11]
  • Special Constabulary, Inspectors; x4 Inspectors, one per Basic Command Unit (BCU)
  • Special Constabulary, Sergeants; formerly Section Officers

With this restructuring, Dyfed–Powys Police is the first police service in Wales to adopt the National Policing Improvement Agencies (NPIA) National Recruitment Standards for Special Constables. Also the training for Special Constables has improved and now is similar to that of a regular Police Constable in its structure and time frame.[12]

Chief Constables
  • 1974 J Ronald Jones
  • 1975–1986 : Richard Thomas [13]
  • 1986–1989 : David Shattock
  • 1989–2000 : Ray White [14]
  • 2000–2007 : Terry Grange [15]
  • 2008–2012 : Ian Arundale [16]
  • 2012 : Jackie Roberts (temporary)
  • 2013–2016 : Simon Prince
  • 2016– : Mark Collins

See also

References
  1. "Tables for 'Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2013". HM Government. Office for National Statistics. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. "Who's Who". www.dyfed-powys.police.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  3. "Police workforce, England and Wales: 30 September 2017". GOV.UK. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  4. All-Wales police force confirmed BBC News – 6 February 2006
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11092171 BBC News – Dyfed Powys Budget Cuts
  6. http://www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/9098932.Dyfed_Powys_Police_recruits_39_new_officers/ Dyfed Powys Announce new recruits
  7. Mr. Terence Grange, Chief Constable, Dyfed–Powys Police Archived 21 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine Dyfed–Powys Police – 19 November 2007
  8. Police chief retires amid inquiry BBC Wales – 19 November 2007
  9. Retired police chief probed over abuse cover-up icWales/Western Mail – 24 November 2007
  10. http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/join-the-police/special-constables Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Apply for Special Constable
  11. http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/news/latest-news/201101/dyfed-powys-police-appoint-new-top-special Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine New Chief Special appointed
  12. http://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=111973 Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine NPIA Post – PoliceSpecials.com 2010
  13. "Richard THOMAS : Obituary". BMDSOnline. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  14. "Retired top cop returns from Down Under to celebrate 50 years of Dyfed-Powys Police". Dyfed-Powys Police. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  15. "Former chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police dies". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  16. "Dyfed-Powys Police chief constable Ian Arundale announces retirement after four years in post". Wales Online. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
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