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.

A PEMBROKESHIRE man accused of assaulting a woman has been remanded in custody after allegedly offering her money to drop the charges.

Lohan Chapman, 19, of Primrose Close, Neyland, is accused of intentionally strangling a female during an alleged incident in Milford Haven on August 1, 2024, and of assaulting her by beating. He denies both charges.

This week, Haverfordwest Magistrates Court heard that Chapman was remanded in custody on January 18 after being accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by offering his alleged victim an undisclosed sum of money to withdraw the charges.

District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction in all three matters.

Chapman, who appeared via video link from Swansea Prison, will now face trial at Swansea Crown Court on February 17.

He was remanded in custody pending his appearance.

JOSEPH DIX, 26, from Frome, and Macauley Ruddock, 28, from Bath, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Andrew Main, a 33-year-old man from Falkirk, Scotland. The tragic incident occurred in Swansea city centre on July 17, 2024, where all three men were staying at the same hotel for work.

The fatal confrontation began with an argument at a nearby bar, escalating back at the hotel and spilling onto the street. Dix and Ruddock chased Mr. Main, rendering him unconscious before launching a prolonged and brutal assault. The court heard that Dix struck Mr. Main from behind, knocking him out. Both men then continued to punch him in the head and face as he lay helpless on the pavement.

Mr. Main never regained consciousness and succumbed to his injuries on August 14, 2024, nearly a month after the attack. His sisters, Nikki Main and Sharon Leebody, provided emotional impact statements in court, expressing the profound grief and trauma their family has endured.

In her statement, Nikki Main said: “I’m absolutely heartbroken and depressed at what has happened to Andrew. My kids are distraught at losing their uncle. Andrew was like my first child. I had legal guardianship over him at 18, since both our parents passed away. I’ve been referred to a psychologist and am struggling with suicidal thoughts. My kids feel scared for my safety. There will forever be a hole in my heart.”

Sharon Leebody added: “When the decision was made to remove life support on August 14, I was devastated. I returned home after Andrew’s death and have been housebound since. Life will never be the same now that he is gone.”

During sentencing, Judge P H Thomas KC highlighted the defendants’ reckless behaviour.
“You two went on an alcohol and cocaine binge in the centre of the city—it lasted for many hours. You both became highly aggressive, and you both wanted to show off to each other. During the trial, neither of you took responsibility for what you did, claiming self-defense. The jury did not accept this. The overwhelming tragedy is that a man has senselessly lost his life in his 30s. I do not lose sight of that paramount point.”

Both Dix and Ruddock will serve a minimum of 13 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

Detective Inspector Claire Lamerton reflected on the devastating consequences of the defendants’ actions, stating: “If Dix and Ruddock had chosen to walk away that night, a life would have been saved, and they would not be convicted killers.”

The case serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic outcomes that can result from alcohol-fueled violence and poor decision-making.