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After a 25-year career, the Chief Constable of the police force covering Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys has announced his retirement.
Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis said: “As someone who was raised in west Wales and has worked in all four counties, leading Dyfed-Powys Police has been the professional privilege of my life.
“I have nothing but fond memories of working in this fantastic force, and in policing. It has been a real honour to work alongside PCC Dafydd Llywelyn, a true leader and nationally important figure in Wales who has invested so much in the development of Dyfed-Powys and the safety of its communities.
“I have every confidence that whoever is appointed the next Chief Constable will continue the force’s positive trajectory, which led us to cutting crime by 18% over the past 12 months – which is by some distance the biggest cut in crime anywhere in England and Wales.”
Following the Chief Constable’s announcement, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn issued the following comments: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Chief Constable Dr. Richard Lewis for his service and dedication to Dyfed-Powys Police.
“His leadership has been instrumental in guiding the force through a period of significant change over the last three years, ensuring we continue to provide an effective and efficient policing service to the communities we serve.
“During his tenure, Dr. Richard Lewis has overseen multiple change programmes as part of a Force review, delivering essential changes that achieved a £10m savings. His strategic leadership has been instrumental in modernising the force, ensuring we are better equipped to meet the demands of modern policing.
“He has also overseen the introduction of a new crime records management system, which has improved the way we record and manage crime data. This was a critical step in response to HMICFRS’s accelerated cause for concern on crime data integrity, ensuring greater accuracy and accountability in our crime recording practices.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner will now begin the search for the next Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police. Deputy Chief Constable Ifan Charles will act as temporary Chief Constable in the meantime.
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