1,300 police jobs cut predicted

21 July 2011 Last updated at 12:31 GMT The report predicts there will be 764 fewer police officers in Wales by 31 March 2015 Police forces in Wales are planning to reduce their workforce by 1,300 officers and staff, according to research on the impact of budget cuts.

An HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report estimates by March 2015, there will be 764 fewer police officers in Wales.

There will also be 540 fewer civilian staff, but only four fewer community support officers.

The Home Office has stressed that the police front line would be protected.

The inspectorate says a third of the reduction has already happened across forces in England and Wales.

A separate study from HMIC on the links between police numbers and crime concludes "there is relatively strong evidence for the potential of an effect of police numbers on crime, particularly with regard to property and other acquisitive forms of offending".

The study says a 10% reduction in officers will lead to a 3% rise in crime. Using HMIC's figures, the reduction in officers in Wales is 10.4%.

The Gwent, North Wales and South Wales forces will all see a fall in the number of officers, according to the report, but Dyfed-Powys will see a small increase.

There are reductions in police staff across the board, but the numbers of community support officers will remain steady.

Police officers in Wales have already voiced concerns about the effect UK government cuts will have on crime and public service.

It has previously been estimated that 1,600 police jobs in Wales could be lost because of the cuts.

Home Office figures showed there were 4,625 fewer officers in Wales and England compared with last year.

Force Cash reduction (2011/12 to 2014/15) Police officers 2010 (2015*) Police staff 2010 (2015*) PCSOs 2010 (2015*)

FIGURES: HMIC

* Proposed figures

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Question over town police station

16 July 2011 Last updated at 14:21 GMT The police station dominates Wrexham's skyline A total of ?175,000 is being spent on mothballing the custody suite at Mold police station in Flintshire, which closed this month.

North Wales Police want to keep it available as the long term future of Wrexham's high-rise police station is uncertain, it has emerged.

Staff from Mold have been redeployed to custody suites at Wrexham and St Asaph, Denbighshire.

But a police authority meeting was told the future of Wrexham is now in review.

Ian Shannon, the deputy chief constable, told a meeting of the North Wales Police Authority that to keep open Mold's suite of cells on a permanent basis would have cost ?750,000, and it was necessary to maintain it to an operational standard.

'Money well spent'

He said this was because of the uncertain future of Wrexham police station and its cells.

Mold police station's custody suite closed in July

He said Wrexham was an expensive station to keep open, and its long-term future was being considered under a police estates review.

Mr Shannon said it was vital to keep the suite at Mold to remain resilient and it would be money well spent.

The suite closed on 8 July 2011 and a report to the authority's professional standards committee said the impact would be monitored.

It will still be available as an important reserve for special operations and during seasonal times like New Year's Eve.

Spending of ?175,000 would involve essential improvements only, including upgrading of the CCTV, fire alarm and ventilation systems.

Without this work the site could not remain open as a contingency location.

To maintain Mold required five police sergeants and five civilian staff, said the report.

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Police release e-fit of suspect

9 July 2011 Last updated at 10:43 GMT An e-fit of a man accused of assault in Criccieth Police investigating the assault of a teenage girl in Gwynedd have released an e-fit of the suspect.

The girl was attacked in Criccieth last Sunday as she walked along on Lon Ednyfed in Criccieth at about 1500 BST.

The man made off from the scene in the direction of the town, leaving the girl with minor injuries.

He is described as white, with a fair complexion, about 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, balding with a shaved head and aged between his early 30 and early 40s.

The attacker was wearing a light-coloured t-shirt, possibly white or yellow, three-quarters length sandy brown trousers and white shoes.

However, police said immediately before the incident it is believed he was seen without a shirt on.

People with information or witnesses who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area of the town cemetery, are urged to contact detectives in Porthmadog on 101.

Alternatively text 66767 or call Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555111.

A 43-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been released without charge, said police.

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