The Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police has hailed the latest performance figures for the force released by the Home Office, but has warned of tough times ahead.

Speaking after the release of the statistics last week, Ian Arundale reflected on a welcome drop in crime levels and an overall detection rate higher than anywhere else in England and Wales - but he urged caution about future expectations as his force faced up to severe budget cuts.

"The figures released show that crime in our area was down seven per cent last year and within that overall figure, domestic burglary and vehicle crime was down by nearly a fifth and violent crime was down by six per cent. But the coming years herald a period of unprecedented budget cuts for public services and the police service is far from immune to these.

"The pressure on the economy will have an impact on families across Wales and Dyfed Powys will not be exempt. There is an obvious risk that this could lead to an increase in crime both nationally and locally. Add to this the fact that we will almost inevitably have to face the reality of taking tough decisions around our numbers of staff over the next three to four years and the challenge that we face is self evident."

In spite of the challenges times ahead, Mr. Arundale lauded the figures released.

"The important thing to remember here is that the data reflects not only recorded crime statistics but the views of the public gathered through the British Crime Survey. For example, anti-social behaviour is highlighted in the media and by Government as a major priority across the country, but only five per cent of people interviewed felt there were high levels of anti-social behaviour in their area, the lowest level in the whole of England and Wales.

"My officers and staff will continue to work with you and our partners to deliver a service that is responsive and seeks to meet reasonable expectations. Our aim will be to maintain the levels of performance that we have consistently achieved in recent years and that you have come to expect," he added.

Mrs. Delyth Humfryes, chair of the Police Authority, added: "The Police Authority is very pleased with the performance figures that have been released today. They are a credit to all those that work tirelessly in the police force to deliver the best possible policing service for the public of Dyfed-Powys.

"We will be working closely with the Chief Constable over the coming months to ensure that performance is maintained despite the challenging times ahead."