PLANS that will see Towy Valley police officers forced to report to Cross Hands station for daily briefings and deployment plans have been branded “a waste of time”.

Changes being carried out to the policing structure in the Towy/Gwendraeth Section mean officers will no longer be based at either Llandovery or Llandeilo.

Both the stations will remain open however, albeit manned only by PCSOs.

Police officers will continue to be present on patrol in both towns and the surrounding area.

Dyfed-Powys Police has said that the move will improve coverage in the Towy Valley and allow officers to spend more time out in the community instead of remaining within the stations.

However, one resident told the South Wales Guardian: “It doesn’t make sense to me to have officers come down from Llandovery only to be sent back up there.

“It seems like a waste of time – time which would be better spent in Llandeilo or Llandovery, or the surrounding areas.”

“I am worried about the change."

Superintendent Craig Templeton said: “By pooling the resources to one location, we will be better placed to utilise officers in order to provide the first class service that we pride ourselves on and help us to safeguard the community.

“As the BCU Commander for Carmarthenshire, I have to ensure that resources are evenly spread and available to meet the demands of an ever changing policing landscape as part of our priorities.

"I can confirm that the two stations of Llandeilo and Llandovery will continue to be staffed by PCSOs who carry out some excellent work, as well as having a police officer presence as part of routine patrols.

“Our focus is now about spending time in the community working with local people and advances in technology allow us to do this much more.

"We really don’t want to spend much time in our police stations. There is very little need for Officers and PCSOs to return to a station throughout their shift.

"The switchboards, systems and paperwork once associated with policing are now available in the palms of our hands."

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman added: "Meeting with our policing teams face-to-face is only one way of engaging with Dyfed-Powys Police.

"The Service can also be contacted via 101, the police non-emergency number, if you are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

"Always call 999 in an emergency. You can email ContactCentre@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk.

"You can also get information from our website dyfed-powys.police.uk/ or visit our facebook page facebook.com/DPPolice or follow us on twitter @dyfedpowys, @DPP_Towy_NPT, @CrossHands_NPT."