The Welsh Conservatives have selected their candidate for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May 2024.

Ian Harrison is a Powys County Councillor who lives near Welshpool, and he is passionate about the communities he serves.

He said: “People in this area want to live free of crime, and free of the fear of crime. If I am elected, I will do my level best to help make sure that happens. My absolute priority will be to listen to residents – and then take action. “

Cllr Harrison trained as a Master Brewer, and worked in both the brewing and the pharmaceutical industries.

He is a seasoned political campaigner having worked locally on two successful general election campaigns, before being elected to the council. Ian is a long-standing school governor and has been involved in a number of local voluntary projects.

During the pandemic he set up a volunteer group to distribute food and medicine to residents and persuaded local retailers to deliver direct to doors.

The married father-of-three has pledged to work with Dyfed-Powys officers to deliver the most efficient service possible - and cut crime.

He said: “Rural crime is a particular problem. It often goes unreported, but it damages local businesses – and just like anti-social behaviour – it blights lives.” He added: “We live in a fantastic part of Wales, and my ambition is to make it safer.”

Busting county lines drugs gangs is also high on Cllr Harrisons’s agenda.

He is a former chair of Guilsfield Community Council and actively supports many voluntary community clubs, groups and associations.

The current Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner is Dafydd Llywelyn of Plaid Cymru, who has held the post since 2016.