Dyfed-Powys police costs cut under Tories, says Salmon

Taxpayers in mid and west Wales enjoy lower police costs and safer communities under Tory leadership, a police and crime commissioner has told the party conference.

Christopher Salmon said he had cut the top ten salaries in the Dyfed-Powys force by 20 percent and the police element of council tax by five percent.

"I don't think anyone in Wales knew that taxes could go down," he said.

He said £3m was also saved by ending a deal to lease a police station.

'Lighten the load'

Ammanford police station, built in 2001, had been costing the force around £700,000 a year under a 30-year private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement until it took ownership of the premises in July.

Ammanford police station had cost the Dyfed-Powys force around £700,000 a year to lease

Mr Salmon, elected commissioner as a Conservative candidate in 2012, told fellow Tories in Manchester on Tuesday that tackling crime had made it possible to cut police spending.

"It's only because we have safer communities with more officers on the beat for more of the time and less crime and anti-social behaviour that we can afford then to lighten the load if you like on local taxpayers," he said.