DYFED Powys Police says it is taking positive steps after inspectors told it to do more to treat people fairly and ethically.

The force was one of just five of 43 across Wales and England to be told by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) it must improve.

Inspectors said the force hadn’t done enough to develop an "ethical culture" and found staff "did not consistently feel able to challenge decisions or inappropriate behaviour".

The inspectorate’s Wendy Williams said: "Following our inspection, HMIC considers that Dyfed Powys Police had not done enough to develop an ethical culture, to incorporate the Code of Ethics into police or practice, or to ensure complaints and misconduct cases were free of bias.

"That is why we have judged the force to ’require improvement’ to be considered ’legitimate’."

The police and crime commissioner for Dyfed Powys, Christopher Salmon said he has told Chief Constable Simon Prince to act on the findings.

Mr Salmon said: "I have made clear to the chief constable that, as this report states, he has more to do."

Mr Salmon said he was pleased the report recognised that officers had a local understanding of the areas they police.

Deputy Chief Constable Liane James said the force welcomed the "learning" from the report.

She said: "I am pleased to be able to say that almost a year on from this inspection being undertaken, very positive steps have been made to introduce the system improvements and processes that the HMIC refers to. "We believe these will only enhance what is already a very victim focused culture here at Dyfed Powys Police. We are also pleased that our work in the key areas of ’Stop Search’ and use of Taser have been recognised and graded as ’Good’ by the HMIC."

She said the force will study the report in detail and ensure and said the force is judged "to be one of the best in the country according to our communities" and "very proud" to still be one of the few forces nationally that still attends every crime.

The deputy chief added: "Integral to our efforts to enhance our service is our on-going work to embed The College of Policing’s ’Code of Ethics’. We have established an ethics committee; a diverse team of people from inside and outside of the organisation.

"The committee will deliver a plan which will make the ‘Code of Ethics’ a living set of principles and values, which all officers and staff will relate to and work by."