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Crime

Police precept rise agreed for Dyfed-Powys in 2026/27

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Council tax policing element to increase by 7.47% — an extra £26.95 a year for the average Band D household

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has confirmed the Dyfed-Powys Police precept for 2026/27 following a meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel on Friday (Jan 23).

The precept — the portion of council tax that helps fund local policing — will rise by 7.47%, increasing the average Band D bill by £26.95 a year, or around £2.25 a month.

After several months of scrutiny, the Police and Crime Panel unanimously supported the Commissioner’s proposal. Members of the panel praised the “open and transparent” way the precept process was handled.

The increase will raise a total precept of £93.033m, supporting an overall budget requirement of £161.905m.

In setting the precept, Mr Llywelyn said he had weighed inflation and cost pressures, demand on services, reserve levels, future investment needs, efficiency plans and feedback from residents across the Dyfed-Powys area.

He said the agreed funding would support targeted investment in policing, with a focus on strengthening Local Policing Teams and prevention work.

The Commissioner said funding would support additional neighbourhood officers to increase visible patrols and strengthen local relationships, extra response officers to improve response times, enhanced early intervention work with young people through partnership working with schools, families and youth services, and investment in innovation to improve services to victims and streamline processes so officers can spend more time on frontline duties.

“I recognise the pressure that any increase in the police precept places on households,” Mr Llywelyn said. “However, this decision is about protecting frontline policing and investing in the services that matter most to our communities.

“Residents have been clear that they want to see more officers locally, faster response times and a greater focus on prevention. This investment delivers exactly that.”

He added: “While the financial and operational environment remains challenging, this level of funding provides the stability needed to focus on delivery and on the priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan.

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views through the consultation, as well as members of the Police and Crime Panel for their continued scrutiny and support.”

Councillor Keith Evans, vice-chair of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel, who chaired the meeting, said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of the precept meeting and want to take the time to thank panel members and the finance sub-group for their diligence in reaching their decision, which has come after many meetings of scrutiny.

“I wish to note the open and transparent manner the Commissioner and his office responded to the sub-group’s request for information. I would also like to express my gratitude to the panel’s secretariat team for their usual cooperation and support.”

 

Crime

Driver caught with three illegal drugs in system on way to MOT test

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Tenby stop check revealed cocaine and cannabis in motorist’s blood

ATTEMPTS to take his vehicle for its annual MOT has backfired after the vehicle’s owner was found to be driving with a cocktail of illegal drugs in his system.

Bradley Bostock, 27, was stopped by officers on December 16 as he drove his Ford Fiesta along Heywood Lane, Tenby.

But further investigations by officers confirmed he had 108 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system together with 17 mcg of cocaine and 2.4 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50, 10 and 2 respectively.

“There’s no detail of the rationale behind why he was stopped, but three drugs were noted in his blood,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Bostock appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Bostock pleaded guilty to three charges of drug driving and was represented in court by Jess Hill.

“He was taking his vehicle to Tenby for an MOT that day but was stopped by officers for a stop check,” she said.

“He’s from Yorkshire and often feels isolated here as he has no family and uses drugs to help deal with his loneliness.”

Bostock, of Corston Cottages, Axton Hill, Pembroke was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 90 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Father-of-three ordered to pay for bus stop damage after drinking binge

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Blood trail led police from damaged shelter to defendant’s home

A FATHER-OF-THREE had admitted carrying out over £500 worth of damage to a bus stop after a drinking binge in Milford town centre.

A blood trail led officers from the bus stop to Hawthorn Way, to the home of Hayden Dimond.

This week Dimond, 31, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he admitted the criminal damage offence.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan informed magistrates that the damage caused to the bus stop totalled £530.60.

“The defendant accepted responsibility in his police interview and pointed them in the direction of the damaged bus stop,” Diamond’s solicitor, Jess Hill, informed the Bench.

“At the time he was highly intoxicated and acted upon impulse.

“He had problems with binge drinking but now rarely consumes alcohol, but whenever he does, it’s monitored so he remains on an acceptable level.”

“What happened that night was not intentional.”

Dimond, Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, was ordered to pay £530 compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council and was fined £40. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £16 surcharge.

 

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Crime

Driver banned after cocaine found in system during A40 stop check

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Motorist told court he had taken drugs the night before socialising with friends

A DRUG DRIVER who was arrested during a routine stop check was this week ordered off the roads for 12 months.

A stop check carried out on Dean Browne as he drove his Volvo V50 along the A40 at Slebech last December prompted officers to carry out a roadside drugs swipe. When it proved positive, further blood tests were carried out at the police station which showed that Browne had 240 mcg of the cocaine metabolism benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50.

Browne, who has no previous convictions, accepted that he’d taken cocaine the night before whilst socialising with friends.

“He is sorry for his actions and understands now that the drug can remain in the system for some time,” said his solicitor Jess Hill, after Browne pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

In addition to the 12-month driving ban, Browne, of Horeb Road, Mynydd y Garreg, Kidwelly, was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

 

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