About Powys
Powys is the largest county in Wales, covering a quarter of Wales’ landmass. The county is typically rural and one of the most sparsely populated areas in England and Wales.
Powys has tremendous landscape assets, from the dramatic mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park in the south through the rolling hills of Radnor Forest and Cambrian Mountains to the Berwyn Mountains in the north.
The economy is based around agriculture and tourism, with high self-employment and small businesses predominating, and an important contribution to employment opportunities from the public sector. The main population centres are aligned to the policing sections of Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon and Ystradgynlais.
In policing terms the county is typified by low crime. The most serious offences tend to be committed by criminals travelling from urban areas outside the county. Powys has 44% of the trunk roads within the force area and has seen a high proportion of fatal road traffic crashes in recent years, many of which have involved motorcycles. This vulnerability to travelling crime and fatal crashes is reflected in the divisional priorities.
