POLICE and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has announced the police precept for 2025/26 following the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel’s unanimous approval at a meeting on Friday (Jan 24). The precept, which forms part of council tax funding for policing, will see an 8.6% increase for an average Band D property—equivalent to £28.65 annually or approximately £2.39 per month.

Transparent budget-setting process

Mr. Llywelyn’s proposal was praised by panel members for its transparency and thorough scrutiny over several months. The Commissioner factored in inflation, cost pressures, service demands, reserves, and community feedback before finalizing the precept.

“The operational and financial landscape remains unpredictable,” Mr. Llywelyn said. “This funding will enable the Force to focus on delivering my new Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2029 and improving outcomes for the community.”

Strengthening local policing

The increase will bring significant enhancements to police services, particularly through Local Policing Teams. The precept, along with a £0.7m Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee Grant, will fund 35 additional full-time officers. This allows experienced officers to shift from desk-based roles to frontline policing, bolstering neighbourhood and response teams.

Further investments include upgrades to critical operational equipment, technology, and staffing to improve efficiency and case handling. Vulnerable callers will benefit from strengthened support, and training initiatives will ensure the Force remains responsive to community needs.

Mr. Llywelyn emphasized the importance of visible policing: “We understand the burden any increase places on taxpayers, but this decision is vital for sustaining essential services and increasing visible policing. These investments will help safeguard our communities’ safety and well-being.”

Public consultation informs decision

The Commissioner sought public input, with 54.7% of 707 respondents supporting a precept increase above 9% to protect services. The approved 8.6% rise will set the Band D precept at £360.68 for 2025/26, raising £86.366m and contributing to total funding of £153.304m—a £9.4m (6.5%) increase from last year.

Future plans

The Commissioner’s new Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2029 will outline objectives for improving performance and outcomes.
“I extend my thanks to the public for their input and to the Police and Crime Panel for their continued support,” Mr. Llywelyn added.

RUMOURS circulating on Facebook and in local chat groups have linked paedophile hunter group The Welsh Warriors to the arrest of Brian Underwood at his Milford Haven home on Thursday, January 23, at 8:30am. However, the group has released a statement categorically denying any involvement in the case.

A spokesperson for The Welsh Warriors said: “We are aware that a Milford Haven man, Brian Underwood, was arrested by police at his home this week, and that our name has been used in connection with this arrest. This is not true. We are also concerned about reports that some individuals are considering organising a protest. The Welsh Warriors have no information regarding this person to suggest that such action is necessary.”

The group urged the public to refer to their official Facebook page for accurate updates on their operations and efforts to assist the police in apprehending offenders, as well as their mission to protect children in Wales from predators.

Brian Underwood’s partner, Kayleigh Griffiths, told The Herald that while her partner had been arrested, the rumours circulating about the reason for his arrest are false.

“People have got the wrong idea,” she said. “We cannot yet release the reason for Brian’s arrest at this time, but all will become clear soon.”

The Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for comment.

THE POLICE part of the council tax bill in Dyfed and Powys is expected to rise by nearly nine percent, meaning the average household could be paying £360 for that element alone.

The overall council tax bill for residents in the counties of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys is made up of the county council element of the council tax, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council precepts.

In a summary before the January 24 meeting of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel, held at County Hall, Haverfordwest, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn calls for a raising of the precept by nearly nine per cent for the 2025-’26 financial year.

The summary says: “After extensive scrutiny by the Police & Crime Panel (P&CP), I was unanimously supported in setting a council tax precept for 2024/25 in Dyfed-Powys of £332.03 for an average band D property, once again being the lowest in Wales.

“At every stage within the series of precept and medium-term financial plan meetings, and indeed through my scrutiny and review of the in-year financial position, I critically question and constructively challenge aspects of the revenue budget requirement and organisational delivery structure to assure myself of the requirements, progress and ultimate delivery. I also undertook a series of challenge and scrutiny sessions specifically reviewing the Estates, ICT and Fleet Strategies and future capital programme.

“To inform my considerations for 2025/26 and to fulfil my responsibilities as Commissioner, I consulted with the public to obtain their views on the level of police precept increase. It was pleasing to see an increase in respondents since 2024/5 with 76 per cent supporting a precept increase above Nine per cent.”

It added: “I am painfully aware of the pressures that the cost-of-living crisis continue to put on our communities. There is a fine balance between ensuring an efficient and effective, visible and accessible Policing Service, addressing operational services demands to ensure the safety of the public, whilst also ensuring value for money for the taxpayers and sound financial management.

“Having undertaken a comprehensive process, I am confident in the robustness of this MTFP, but this does not underestimate the difficult decisions or indeed mitigate the financial challenges and uncertainties which are outside of our control.

“I therefore submit my precept proposal for scrutiny by the Dyfed- Powys Police and Crime Panel, which will raise the average Band D property precept by £2.39 per month or £28.65 per annum to £360.68, an 8.6 per cent increase. This increase will raise a total precept of £86.366m.

“This will provide a total funding of £153.304m, representing a £9.4m/6.5 per cent increase on the revised funding for 2024/25.”

For the individual council tax bands of A-I, the proposed levels, and increase on last year, are: £240.46 (+£19.10), £280.53 (+£22.29), £320.61 (+£25.47), £360.68 (+£28.65), £440.84 (+£35.02), £520.99 (+£41.39), £601.14 (+£47.76), £721.37 (+£57.31), and £841.60 (+£66.86).

Ceredigion is currently mooting a near-10 per cent increase in that element of the overall council tax bill.

Anyone paying a premium on council tax, such as second home-owners, also pay the premium on the police precept, meaning their bills for this element are proportionately higher.