Dyfed-Powys PEEL 2014
Efficiency
How well the force delivers value for money
To what extent is the force efficient?
The challenge for Dyfed-Powys Police does not come from being able to manage the volume of demand, but from having to provide a full policing capability over a very large geographic area.
The force carried out an initial restructure at the start of the spending review period that resulted in savings in police staff posts and senior police officer ranks. It is now refining this further to improve the business support functions through the ‘Public First’ programme.
To what extent is the force taking steps to ensure a secure financial position for the short and long term?
Dyfed-Powys Police has plans in place that will, with the use of reserves, achieve its entire savings requirement to 2014/15.
The force faces a less difficult challenge than some other forces as it benefits from receiving a higher proportion of its funding from the police element of the council tax and so is less affected by the impact of central government police cuts.
The force faces greater uncertainty for 2016/17 and beyond, and its plans for this are less well developed. Work is progressing to develop options for future savings. The restructuring of the way business support functions operate and a greater use of technology are key to this.
To what extent has the force got an affordable way of providing policing?
The force has focused its savings on police staff, losing a higher proportion than other forces in England and Wales. This has allowed it to protect police officer numbers.
The force plans to have a greater proportion of its workforce and police officers in frontline crime fighting roles than the figure for England and Wales.
The force is starting to implement a new change programme, ‘Public First’, which aims to improve the service to the public by making better use of resources to limit cuts in frontline policing and to invest in new technology to support officers in doing their jobs more efficiently.