THE chief policeman of Dyfed Powys said any further cuts to the budget would leave the force "more akin to that of a developing country".

Chief constable Ian Arundale spoke as members of the police authority met on Friday to decide how much council tax bills will increase next year.

They agreed a 5 per cent increase in the police portion of council tax — equal to £198.54 a year for a band D house.

The 5 per cent increase will be on top of any rise from the county council.

Speaking at the meeting in the police's Llangunnor headquarters, Mr Arundale said the force faced a new crisis.

Having balanced the books for next year, it now faces the possibility of losing a further £9 million of Home Office funding.

He said: "If we have this additional burden placed on us we will be restricted to providing core services only. We will be more akin to a developing country."

Police authority chairman Delyth Humfryes added: "As the chief constable has said before, losing this £9 million will be catastrophic for us. The Government and Home Office have to be aware of our worries in Dyfed Powys."

The authority members agreed to lobby politicians, including Assembly members, about resisting the cuts.

Discussing the need for a 5 per cent increase for next year's council tax, the authority was told it amounted to about £10 extra per household per year.

Chairman of the finance committee John Davies, a Pembrokeshire councillor, said: "I understand that's less than three cups of coffee at Costa."

He said a 5 per cent increase was the maximum allowed without needing Welsh Government approval.

The bulk of the police's money comes directly from Westminster but this, as a proportion of the total funding, was being cut each year, he said.

As a result, he added, the amount paid by local taxpayers increases each year.

He said: "We know Dyfed Powys covers half the landmass of Wales and we know the extra burden this makes on policing but, sadly, that is not always recognised by those who set the funding we rely on.

"What is clearly important to the people of Dyfed Powys is an effective and visible police force."

Authority member Gwyn Hopkins, representing Carmarthenshire, added: "The UK is in a terrible financial mess. We are not to blame for that but unfortunately we are having to suffer by increasing the council tax by 5 per cent.

"It's quite clear there is a policy by central government to make local people pay more and more for the police force."

The police authority voted unanimously for a 5 per cent increase in the council tax precept. The final council tax bill will include precepts for the police, fire service, community council and county council.

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