The number of arrests made by police in Dyfed and Powys has dropped nearly two thirds in the last decade, figures reveal.

Data from the Home Office shows that Dyfed-Powys Police carried out 4,350 arrests in the year to March, compared with 12,170 in 2007-08.

The tally for the latest 12-month period was three per cent down on the previous year.

Across England and Wales, data from all but one of the 43 police forces shows that officers conducted 698,737 arrests in 2017-18, which is eight per cent fewer than in the previous year, and half the level 10 years ago.

“This continues the downward trend seen since a peak in the year ending March 2008,” a government report said.

In the wake of the findings, the National Police Chiefs’ Council warned “proactive capabilities” to prevent crime have been “significantly curtailed”.

The reduction comes at a time when police are recording rising numbers of crimes across a number of categories including violent, knife-related and sexual offences.

Data released last week showed that Dyfed-Powys Police registered 26,071 crimes in the 12 months to June, an increase of eight per cent on the previous year.

Across England and Wales, 5.6 million crimes were recorded – the highest total since the year ending March 2005.

In Dyfed and Powys, the most common type of crime people were arrested for was violence against the person, representing 42 per cent of arrests.

A further 15 per cent were for theft offences.

The vast majority of people arrested, 83 per cent, were male.

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