NEW figures reveal Dyfed-Powys Police has paid out £324,000 in compensation over the past five years, following nearly 200 claims made by members of the public.

A Freedom of Information requests show a whopping 186 claims were lodged against the force between 2019 and 2024, with compensation payments peaking in 2021/2022 at £138,111. Claims included allegations of unlawful arrest, financial losses, personal injury, and failure in duty of care.

In 2019/2020, 36 claims were made, with nine settled. The following year, 22 claims were lodged, with nine again resulting in payouts. Numbers rose to 38 claims in 2021/2022, with 11 settlements, before dropping slightly in 2022/2023 to 36 claims and eight payouts. However, the most recent figures for 2023/2024 show a significant rise, with 54 claims and seven settlements.

Lucy Parker, a solicitor from JF Law, said: “Claims against police forces highlight the importance of accountability. Issues such as wrongful arrest, assault, and negligence must be addressed seriously.”

Nationally, UK police forces have paid out millions in compensation, with property damage from botched raids cited as a frequent reason.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been approached for comment.

A MILFORD HAVEN motorist has been banned from driving after being caught travelling ‘at speed’ along Dale Road, Haverfordwest, after consuming cannabis.

John Lewis, 30, was followed by police officers as he travelled along the Dale Road on June 24, 2024.

“The officers believed the car was travelling at speed, and when they spoke to the driver, who was identified as the defendant, he said he’d taken cannabis the evening before,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Lewis appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates this week.

Blood tests carried out at the police station confirmed the defendant had 3.7 mcg of Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The prescribed legal limit is 2.

Lewis, of Coombs Drive, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to driving over the legal drugs limit. He was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“If he had been aware that he was over the limit that day, he’d never have driven,” he said.

Lewis, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs.

HAVERFORDWEST shoplifter Asa Wandelt has appeared before magistrates yet again after CCTV footage showed him stealing £17 worth of food and drink from the Cooperative store in Carmarthen.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates this week via a video link from Parc Prison, Bridgend, where he is serving a custodial sentence for previous convictions, Wandelt, 36, pleaded guilty to his latest shoplifting offence.

“He’s making the most of his time in custody by getting clean and starting to sort himself out,” said his solicitor, Tom Lloyd.

Wandelt, of Harrier Road, Haverfordwest, was fined £40 and ordered to pay £17 compensation to the Cooperative store and a £16 court surcharge.