Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, North Wales and South Wales Police will receive additional neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs within the next 12 months, to combat the highest-priority issues for local residents.
In recent years, visible policing has declined dramatically, with the number of people who regularly see officers patrolling their local area halving in the past decade. This has contributed to rising antisocial behaviour and crime in town centres, eroding public confidence and leaving communities feeling unsafe and forgotten.
From July, communities across the country will see policing strengthened with three key improvements as part of the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee:
- Named officers for every neighbourhood who residents can turn to, with all enquiries guaranteed a response within 72 hours.
- A dedicated antisocial behaviour leader in each force working with residents and businesses to develop tailored action plans.
- Regular patrols in town centres during peak times to increase police visibility where it’s needed most.
By April 2026, Wales will benefit from:
- Up to 33 additional neighbourhood police officers for Dyfed-Powys Police.
- Up to 40 additional neighbourhood police officers and 13 new PCSOs for Gwent Police.
- Up to 22 additional neighbourhood police officers and 15 new PCSOs for North Wales Police.
- Up to 70 additional neighbourhood police officers for South Wales Police.
This forms part of the 3,000 additional staff in neighbourhood roles nationwide next year, funded by the government’s £200 million investment.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“The heartbeat of our Great British policing tradition is seeing bobbies on the beat but for too long, communities have been feeling abandoned as crime soars. Too many communities no longer feel safe because they do not have local officers to turn to as yobs and street criminals run amok in their towns and villages.
“It should not matter where you live – everyone deserves local, visible policing they can trust, and with our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee we will end this postcode lottery and restore policing to our communities.”
By the end of parliament, Wales will see its share of the 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers that will be deployed across England and Wales by 2029. Officers will also be equipped with new powers through the Crime and Policing Bill to tackle street crime and antisocial behaviour more effectively.
The “Renew Bangor” initiative has seen impressive early results, with 24 arrests in three weeks for offences including drug supply, violent behaviour, money laundering and theft. The dedicated team of six officers and a sergeant has conducted 56 proactive stop searches with 28 positive results for drugs and stolen property, significantly improving high street safety.
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, KPM said:
“Following the success of ‘Renew Rhyl’, our latest ‘Clear Hold Build’ project in Bangor is already reaping real rewards.
“Initiatives like this have tangible benefits for our communities, and they highlight the value and importance of police visibility in tackling crime.
“Everything we do is centred around making our high streets and neighbourhoods the safest places to visit, work and shop in.”
This investment marks the beginning of the government’s commitment to safer communities through its Plan for Change and Safer Streets mission, restoring confidence in local policing and making Wales a safer place to live and thrive.
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