Policing Career Of New Chief Constable Of Dyfed-Powys Police Began By Volunteering As A Special Constable

The Police and Crime Panel have today confirmed the appointment of Mark Collins as the new Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “I am very pleased to announce that following the completion of the rigorous recruitment process, my preferred candidate, Mark Collins, has now been officially appointed the new Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police. I am grateful for the response of the workforce and from our communities, when I set out to establish the type of Chief Constable we required for Dyfed-Powys Police. In reflecting on this feedback, and in considering the policing priorities I will be laying out, I believe we have selected a Chief who above all else will improve the organisation and the service it provides to the public.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was very pleased with the interest shown by those keen to lead Dyfed-Powys Police and am very much looking forward to continuing this journey with the new Chief Constable, in developing the Force’s future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In accepting the offer, Mark emphasised how delighted and privileged he feels in having the opportunity to work with us in serving the communities across the Dyfed-Powys Police force area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mark Collins is currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police, but he has a long association with the Dyfed-Powys area, and in fact began his career in the police service when he was appointed as a Special Constable in Carmarthen in 1987. His commitment to policing was cemented in 1991 when he became a Police Constable and joined the Metropolitan Police, but shortly returned to Dyfed-Powys Police in 1995 as a Constable in Cardigan. Over the next 10 years he worked in all four counties serving at every rank to Superintendent in Uniform and CID. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 2006 Mark was promoted to lead the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU). In more recent years he served as the ‘Preventing Violent Extremism Deputy National Coordinator’ based in London with a national remit, a Borough Commander with the Metropolitan Police, and most recently has been both Assistant Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable at Bedfordshire Police. He lives in Carmarthenshire with his wife. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​