News

‘Be fair’ on funding for rural policing

Published

10 years ago

September 22, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Christopher Salmon: Front-line police are safe

CONSERVATIVE MPs and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys have written to the Home Secretary expressing concerns about planned changes to funding allocation across the police force.

The letter, which has been signed by Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart, as well as Glyn Davies and Chris Davies, and Christopher Salmon, urges Theresa May to ‘support fair funding for rural areas’.

The letter goes on to say that ‘measures proposed as part of the formula focus heavily on density. Deprivation, measured by people living in flats, for example, or estate density, does not reflect rural reality well. Flats may be less common in rural areas, and estates less dense, but the deprivation is just as real. Bar density measured by the hectare seriously misunderstands Dyfed- Powys. The force covers 1m hectares, twice the size of Thames Valley Police. The majority of these hectares are agricultural where bars are clearly not a problem. In towns where bars and clubs are concentrated, however, alcohol has much the same effect as elsewhere. A ‘per hectare’ formula misses this.’

At present, Police funding is allocated based on the Police Allocation Formula. This is based on the estimated workload of each police force area, and covers:

C rime related activity
N on-crime activity (eg providing public reassurance or road traffic accident assistance)
P olicing special events
P olicing sparsely-populated areas
W orkload weighting calculation for cost and time which include an area cost adjustment for variation in labour market costs in different areas.

The proposed new funding model will ‘be based on three broad levels that capture the drivers of crime and demand on police time,’ according to the review. These are:

Population levels
The underlying characteristics of the local population
The environmental characteristics of police force areas.

The police budget has already been reduced by as much as 26% over the last five years, and any changes in the way that this money is allocated could have serious repercussions for policing in rural areas.

In an exclusive interview with The Herald, Christopher Salmon explained why he shared his concerns with the Home Secretary, and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting front-line policing.

Mr Salmon said that the proposed budget changes were based on two separate things; a comprehensive spending review which will reduce the overall budget by between 25 and 40 percent, and a review of the formula, which decides how the money is allocated. This second part could have a potentially serious impact on Dyfed Powys Police force.

“I was very keen, along with my parliamentary colleagues to make the case for rural police forces,” he said, pointing out that they faced very different challenges, including the need to keep buildings open, and greater fuel costs. “I don’t work for the Home Office, I work for the people of Dyfed-Powys,” he added.

Police Minister Mike Penning has previously said: “The current model for allocating police funding is complex, opaque and out of date. This consultation sets out proposals to deliver a police funding model for the future which is fair, robust and transparent.”

Mr Salmon agreed with this synopsis: “The formula does need changing, no one disputes that. It is opaque and we need clarity. As P&CC I am responsible for all money spent.

“It is right that they change it, my concern is that the formula is fair to rural areas.”

When we quoted figures suggesting that the police budget had already been cut by 26% in the last five years, Mr Salmon thought that the figure was nearer to 20%, but agreed that significant cuts had been made.

In terms of future reductions, he said “Civil service departments will be asked to provide models, but in Dyfed Powys we are anticipating cuts of 5.5% per year.”

When we asked what the effects of these hypothetical cuts would be, Mr Salmon told us that he believed Dyfed Powys Police force could still make ‘significant savings.’

“These would be in the area of management – less ‘bosses in the office’, he said. “We could also work more closely with other bodies like the fire and rescue service.

Mr Salmon insisted that whatever reductions were made, front line policing would be protected.

“As long as I’m in the job, I will protect front-line services. Dyfed- Powys has already made savings of £8.8m, at the same time as recruiting 30 extra officers. Crime and anti-social behaviour have gone down by 12%

When we asked about comments made by the Chief Constable of North Wales Mike Polin, who said that the Police force would “bear the brunt” of Home Office budget cuts, Mr Salmon said that he was broadly right, in that the police force received the largest part of the Home Office Budget, but he stressed that it was up to the Home Office to decide where they made their savings.

We pointed out to Mr Salmon that while the police force across the country has been reduced in size by around 17,000 police officers and 3,000 PCSOs over the last 5 years, Dyfed Powys has actually increased the size of their front-line force.

“That’s down to better management and better leadership,” he said.

As an example of savings made that have seemed unpopular, we asked Mr Salmon about the cessation of monitored CCTV in Carmarthen Town Centre.

“I completely understand people may seem nervous about changes, but there was no evidence to support CCTV monitoring. This year crime rates in Carmarthen are down,” he said.

“I make these difficult decisions to protect front line policing, and I will continue to do this for as long as I am in the job.”

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after Carmarthen park incident

Published

13 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

57-year-old due in court following alleged knife and stalking offences

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder following a serious incident in Carmarthen town centre last week.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that James McKenna, aged 57, from Carmarthen, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and stalking.

The charges relate to an incident in Carmarthen Park on Thursday (Jan 29), which prompted a significant emergency services response and caused concern among residents.

Police have not yet released full details of the circumstances, but officers were seen in and around the park area for several hours following the incident while enquiries were carried out.

McKenna is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday (Feb 5).

The Herald understands the case involves allegations of both violence and targeted behaviour towards an individual, with stalking listed among the charges.

Public concern

Carmarthen Park is a popular and busy public space used daily by families, dog walkers and joggers, and incidents of this severity are rare.

The news has prompted concern locally, particularly as the alleged offences include possession of a knife in a public place.

Residents have previously raised questions about safety in parks and open spaces across west Wales, especially during darker winter evenings.

Court proceedings

At this stage, the charges remain allegations and the case will now proceed through the courts.

Magistrates will decide whether the case is sent to Crown Court due to the seriousness of the attempted murder charge.

Further details are expected to emerge during Thursday’s hearing.

The Herald will be attending court and will provide updates as they become available.

Crime

Sex offender jailed after living off grid in Pembrokeshire and refusing to register

Published

14 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Court Reporter

Man walked into police station after months avoiding authorities

A CONVICTED sex offender who told police he intended to live “off grid” rather than comply with legal monitoring rules has been jailed after handing himself in at a Pembrokeshire police station.

Christopher Spelman, aged 66, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting breaching the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

The court heard Spelman was released from prison in Dorset on July 4 last year but immediately refused to provide police with an address, despite being legally required to do so within three days.

Instead, he indicated he planned to buy a tent and live outdoors.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson said officers subsequently launched a nationwide search when Spelman failed to make contact with police. Public appeals were issued and his case featured on the television programme Crimewatch.

Detectives believed he had been travelling around the UK using public transport and staying at campsites. He was known to have links to several areas including Merseyside, Manchester, Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire.

His whereabouts remained unknown until January 3 this year, when he walked into Haverfordwest police station and was arrested. It is unclear how long he had been in Pembrokeshire.

Spelman previously served seven years in prison after being convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard this was not the first time he had failed to comply with the rules. After an earlier release in 2016, he again failed to register his address and avoided police for around five years before being caught.

He has 11 previous convictions for 29 offences.

Defence barrister Andrew Evans described the case as unusual and said his client had long disputed his original conviction and had expressed a wish to live “outside society”.

However, he said Spelman had gradually accepted that he remained subject to court orders and now wanted more stable accommodation and a chance to rebuild his life. The defendant asked the court to impose a custodial sentence so arrangements could be made for his future release.

Judge Geraint Walters noted there were signs Spelman wished to change but warned that any further breaches would result in longer prison terms.

With credit for his guilty plea, Spelman was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

20 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ex-Ospreys captain was almost twice over limit in Pembroke town centre

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has admitted driving through Pembroke town centre on Christmas Day when he was almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by officers as he drove his Mercedes CLA 220 along The Green, Pembroke, at around 5pm on Christmas Day.

“The officers were very concerned at the manner of his driving, as the car was being driven erratically and was swerving to the other side of the road,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“When Jonathan Thomas got out of the car, the officers could see that he was having difficulty standing and was unsteady on his feet.”

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed Thomas had 62 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He has family in the area and had travelled to spend time with them on Christmas Day,” she told the magistrates. “He’s very remorseful for his actions and hugely regrets his decision that day.”

Jess Hill concluded by saying that Thomas is currently “between jobs and living off his savings”.

Thomas, who gave his address as Main Road, Bredon, was disqualified from driving for a total of 18 months.

“The length of your disqualification reflects the fact that you were more than a little bit over the limit,” commented the presiding magistrates when imposing sentence.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.

The former Wales back row left his role as Swansea RFC head coach at the beginning of December 2025 as a result of ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is one of the 390 former rugby union players currently taking part in a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s authorities.

“Long-standing issues linked to the head trauma have caused me some concern recently and it has been impossible for me to give the role everything it needs,” he said in a previous interview with the BBC.

His rugby career started out with Pembroke RFC juniors before moving to Swansea RFC, which he captained when he was 19. He then joined the Ospreys where, over a ten-year period, he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was the youngest player to captain the Ospreys and, at the time of leaving, was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop, on 188 appearances.

His international career saw him play for Wales at Under-16, Youth, Under-19, Under-21 and Sevens levels. He made his senior international debut against Australia in 2003, featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was part of two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning sides in 2005 and 2008. Between 2004 and 2011, Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.