Police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has warned that Dyfed-Powys Police is nearing tipping point and faces difficult decisions after being hit with a “substantial and unprecedented” pensions bill of more than £4m by HM Treasury.

The government has asked police forces across England and Wales to pay more towards pension liabilities, resulting in concerns that the money could come from individual force’s budgets and therefore have a significant impact on local policing.

Across England and Wales the police pensions cost is set to increase by £165m in 2019/20 before rising to £417m, which could mean 4,000 fewer officers next year and 10,000 fewer from 2020/21.

As a worst case scenario for Dyfed-Powys Police, this could mean a loss of 38 officers in 2019/20 and a total of 97 officers for 2020/21, placing great pressures on resources and posing a real threat to community safety.

Mr Llywelyn has written to all Dyfed-Powys MPs and AMs raising his concerns about the critical and precarious position that Dyfed-Powys and the police service in general face.

He has also invited elected representatives to a briefing with him in December.

He said: “We are, without doubt, nearing tipping point in relation to police funding in Dyfed-Powys.

“I have been working prudently alongside the force to ensure that the precept remains stable for the taxpayer next year.

“With the handing of a substantial and unprecedented pensions bill from the Treasury, financial stability has now been put at significant risk, and poses a threat to our local communities.

“If the Treasury is to continue with its plans, without providing additional funding, we will have to look at a range of options before making some difficult decisions."

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