THE POLICE and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys is being investigated for an alleged road traffic offence just two months before he seeks re-election, the Cambrian News can exclusively reveal.

Christopher Salmon, who earns £65,000 a year, is alleged to have driven a police-owned vehicle with defective tyres at an unspecified location on a date last October.

The claim is now the subject of a probe by the Independent Police Complaints Commission following a referral from the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel in January.

The move will come as a severe embarrassment to Mr Salmon as he launches his campaign to secure a second four-year term of office at the PCC election in May.

Standing as a Conservative, the 37-year-old (pictured) became the first Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner when elected in November 2012.

A spokesman for the IPCC said in a statement: “The IPCC is independently investigating an alleged road traffic offence involving the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon.

"The allegation relates to driving a police-owned vehicle with defective tyres on a date in October 2015. The IPCC investigation follows a referral to the IPCC from the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel in January 2016.”

Responsible for keeping Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys safe from crime, Mr Salmon controls a £95m budget and his responsibilities include hiring and firing the Chief Constable.

Mr Salmon could not be contacted for a comment.