Dyfed Powys Police has recruited 39 new police officers and special constables.

The Force has recruited 18 new full-time police officers and 21 special constables, who are volunteers that provide an invaluable service to the public and their full-time colleagues.

The Force is working hard to maintain front line services it provides for communities across Mid and West Wales and its 18 new full-time recruits will start their training this month (June), and will be working in communities across the Force area by February 2012.

The 21 special constables have already started their training and will be working in communities across the Force area by December this year.

The Authority needs to save £13 million between 2011-2014 and is reviewing the way it provides services but remains committed to having as many police officers working in communities as possible.

The Force and Authority are adamant that it is people that provide the level of service residents living in the safest place in England and Wales have come to expect, not buildings.

Police buildings in communities that serve as a base for officers but are not generally used by the public have been reviewed. In the light of the savings the Authority needs to make in order to balance its budget they have been deemed no longer fit for purpose and will be closing.

In order to deliver the savings at the earliest opportunity the Force is looking to make the closures in the next three to 15 months. However, none of the police buildings will close until alternative arrangements have been put in place.

The Force is reassuring the public that the service it provides to residents will not diminish, and communities will still have their dedicated neighbourhood policing teams who are there to respond to issues that matter locally.

Chief Constable Ian Arundale said: “The fact that we are taking on new recruits demonstrates our commitment to front line policing.

“The recruitment of 39 new police officers and special constables is a significant commitment to the communities we serve. The public understand that it is police officers who deliver a service not buildings.

“By closing sites deemed no longer fit for purpose we aim to avoid or minimise job losses and cuts to front line resources.

“While some sites will close we are also considering other options to ensure we mainatain a visible police presence in these areas. For instance, in some communities that could be co-locating with other organisations or in others we will explore the possiblity of providing mobile police stations.”

Delyth Humfryes, Chair of Dyfed Powys Police Authority, said: “The closure of these specific sites will not diminish the service to the public and in many cases it will improve the service we offer the public.

“We are committed to providing good customer service for our many different rural communities and investing in our people so we can continue to provide a high quality policing service for the communities we serve.”

-