Chief Constable Simon Prince will be retiring from the service this coming summer, after three years leading Dyfed-Powys Police.

In making his announcement, Mr Prince said it had been “an enormous privilege” to be the chief constable, describing Dyfed-Powys as “an area and force like no other”.

“When I took up this post, I was determined that despite the rapidly changing policing landscape, we would not falter on the service our communities receive,” he said.

“Since 2013, we have been on a significant journey to restructure our organisation and, while this has not been an easy process, my officers and staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the communities they serve remain the safest - I am so proud of what they achieve day-in-day out.

“I’m also grateful for the support that the communities in our area unfailingly show to their local policing teams – it’s what makes policing here work and is a strength that is the envy of many other forces nationally.”

Mr Prince said he had made the announcement early to give the force time to plan and because he wanted candidates standing in the upcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections “to know that there is a planned change of internal leadership ahead of them”.

Mr Prince said it had always been his intention to retire at 50 but he had “worked a little bit beyond that to take us up to this point”.

“In Dyfed-Powys Police, we are fortunate to have a workforce which embodies the essence of what it means to be a public servant, and continually demonstrate the very highest levels of professionalism, selflessness, bravery and compassion,” he said.

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “I am grateful to Simon Prince for his many years of service to the public in Dyfed-Powys and in Gwent before. He has been a thoughtful and positive contributor to British policing at a time when such contributions are most needed. I wish him the very best for his future plans.”