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Commissioner defends policing levels in Dyfed Powys

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THE DYFED-POWYS Police and Crime Commissioner has defended police numbers but confirmed work is underway to take an in-depth look at resources across the force area.

Dafydd Llywelyn was responding to a member of the public at this week’s meeting of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel, who asked if he had plans to appoint additional police officers following an increased precept for police in the recent Council Tax setting.

Mr Llywelyn said police funding should not necessarily equate to police numbers, pointing out that there are more police officers and staff employed in Dyfed Powys now, than when he took over as Commissioner in 2016.

He was also keen to point out that the Dyfed Powys precept remained the lowest in Wales – the average Band D property contributes around £250 a year to policing currently, collected as part of Council Tax.

“The Chief Constable has more resources at his disposal now since when I came in to the force,” he said.

“I’m really pleased to state that Dyfed Powys police has not suffered the level of cuts that have been seen nationally.

“Since 2009-19, the average number of police officers has been 1145 – it stood at 1186 in 2009-10, prior to austerity, and was at its lowest in 2012-13, at 1103.

“The most recent figures for 2018-19 show that there are currently 1135 officers.

“But it isn’t all about police officer numbers – there were 1859 police officers and staff when I took over and there are 1930 now. Staff have a very important role in terms of digital policing and dealing with cyber enabled crime, and as investigators and analysts – it’s not just warranted officers.

“We also have 148 PCSOs forming part of the wider neighbourhood policing teams. A special grant from Welsh Government equates to half of the cost. The ratio at present is one PCSO to 10 warranted officers.”

Mr Llywelyn explained that a large proportion of this year’s precepts was to help the force take on the unexpected burden of pension contributions, passed on by the Treasury, adding a £4.2million bill to the force budget.

He, and his Chief Constable Mark Collins, explained particular issues around recruitment in the north of the force area, saying that a large piece of work is underway to look at demand and resources.

CC Collins said: “There are problems in north Powys. We have asked for volunteers to relocate, and have offered incentives. But there are five new recruits and a recruitment campaign is about to launch.

“An agile workforce and being able to flex our resources is what we are working towards. “We’re doing a complex piece of demand work to ensure we have the right resources, but I will point out that we are very healthy in terms of our response times and are still the safest place in England and Wales.”

The Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel is made up of representatives from the four counties of the force area.

It is the Panel’s duty to hold Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn to account.

The Panel meets at least four times a year, and can put questions to the Commissioner on behalf of members of the public.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

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A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

  • Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
  • Common assault
  • Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

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Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • A second count of assault
  • Criminal damage
  • An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
  • A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

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Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

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Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • Intentional non-fatal strangulation
  • Common assault on a woman
  • Criminal damage in a domestic context
  • Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
  • Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.

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