AROUND 55 support staff at Dyfed-Powys Police will be made redundant in the coming year as the force looks to shed around 118 positions from its 823-strong civilian backroom staff.

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon labelled the cuts a “restructuring process” which, he claimed, would “maintain and improve” front-line policing across the region.

A spokesman for the commissioner said that in addition to the 55 redundancies, 38 currently vacant posts would disappear and a further 25 positions – expected to become vacant due to retirement and voluntary staff departures – would also see departing staff members not being replaced.

The move comes as Dyfed-Powys looks to cut costs in a bid to address budget reductions which will have seen the force’s spending power fall by £23.5million between 2010 and 2018.

The cost-cutting programme – known as Public First – will see “a reshaping of professional support services”.

The spokesman said Mr Salmon and Chief Constable Simon Prince remain “determined that redundancies will be minimised and that the public will benefit from an improved police service”.

Mr Prince, who will lead the programme, said: “Our new structure will see us continue to put the public first in all that we do.

“Our civilian support services will be resourceful, agile, lean, adaptable and flexible. They must deliver efficient and effective support to frontline policing.

All police support staff are currently employed by Mr Salmon’s office, however from April all but 16 will transfer to the control of the chief constable.

Mr Salmon, who will scrutinise the changes, said: “In modernising and streamlining our support services we will enable the police to do policing.

“The public can be assured that a great deal of thought and consideration has been given to these proposals.”