Police and Crime Panel endorses new Chief Constable

Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel has endorsed the appointment of Mark Collins as the new Chief Constable for the force area.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn had recommended Mr Collins to the panel following a rigorous selection process.

Confirming the panel’s unanimous endorsement, Chair Andrew Edwards said he was delighted with the appointment.

The panel had a statutory role to review the proposed appointment to the Chief Constable’s post and members had to satisfy themselves that the process was properly conducted and adhered to the principles of merit, openness and fairness.

At its meeting on September 30, the panel had the opportunity to put a number of questions to Mr Collins, in which he outlined his commitment to honesty and integrity, community engagement, leadership and the Welsh language.

“My commitment is to work with the PCC to deliver his work plan,” he said. “It’s about mutual respect, professionalism, and ultimately doing the best for our communities.”

It is hoped Mr Collins will take up his role in Dyfed Powys by December, replacing the outgoing Chief Constable Simon Prince in what the Police and Crime Commissioner hopes will be a “seamless process”.

Mr Collins is currently serving as the Deputy Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police.

His career in the police service started in 1987 when he was a Special Constable in Carmarthen. In 1991 he joined the Metropolitan Police and a PC, returning to Dyfed Powys in 1995 as a Constable in Cardigan.

He then spent 10 years serving at every rank, to Superintendent in uniform and CID, more recently leading the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit, and the deputy national coordinator of work to prevent violent extremism.

He lives with his wife in Carmarthenshire.