A SUGGESTED hike in the police precept has been supported by the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel.

Police commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has proposed a increase of 6.9 per cent and has plans to invest and improve policing services across the force area.

Mr Llywelyn presented his precept and draft budget to the panel on January 27.

The panel has to be consulted on proposed precepts under schedule 5 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

Although noting that the precept is above a level they comfortably support, the majority of the panel felt it a price worth paying to ensure services could be improved.

Among the improvements being proposed is the re-introduction of a CCTV system, scrapped under the previous Commissioner, and a new custody suite for Carmarthenshire.

Mr Llywelyn also outlined his plans to employ more investigative officers – in particular in the force’s Protecting Vulnerable People department - and to invest in its cybercrime unit.

A 6.9 per cent precept would mean an average band D property would pay £213.87 towards policing services – 27p per household more a week for policing.

Pointing out the previous Commissioner’s decision to freeze the precept, Mr Llywelyn said he had been left in a difficult decision to bring funding back to a sustainable level to support effective policing.

“Some people might say it is a hike - it’s not an easy decision, but I’m not going to shy away from it because I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

“It’s based on very extensive discussion and ambition to have Dyfed-Powys Police perform better. Even with this increase we will still be the cheapest in Wales compared to the other force areas.”