Madam,

It was with interest that I heard recently that the Chief Inspector of Constabulary had completed an audit of Wales’s police forces and found Dyfed Powys to be below an acceptable standard.

It was of specific interest because the findings merely reflect reporting patterns in the Cambrian News.

Over the last year the weekly reports of minor crime and anti-social behaviour have risen pro-rata with the apparent diminution of support provided to the community by the local constabulary; aligned with this is the number of appeals for information or witnesses to said crimes.

I cannot direct responsibility for this dire situation at the hard working and dedicated officers themselves but at the parsimony of the barely elected (15 per cent polling turnout) Police and Crime Commissioner who appears to make a virtue out of cutting back on services and resources whilst proudly reducing the financial contribu-tion of council taxpayers to the police budget. From a personal perspective, I would welcome an increase if it restored police performance and, even better, re-instated open space CCTV within Ceredigion.

I find it incongruous that the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner is claiming substantial cash reserves, as is Ceredigion Council whilst both appear committed to a diminution of the services provided to their communities. From where do they claim to have a mandate for such actions?

I believe that the most contentious issue remains that of open space CCTV in our urban centres. It beggars belief that a remote English external consultancy organisation can objectively evaluate the merits of CCTV in the west of Wales (accepting that the outcome reflects their remit) and in doing so confound the reasoned knowledge and experience of the populace, not to mention the overwhelming sense of well-being and security that CCTV provides. These cannot be measured by statisticians, but nevertheless are fundamental to the tranquillity within the community.

Yours etc

Allan Phillips

New Quay.