A Dyfed-Powys police officer has slammed “excessive spending” on vehicles for senior officers in the force.

The anonymous officer is outraged that while the public are asked to pay an increase on the council tax precept, senior officers drive luxury vehicles which cost the force more than £200,000 last year.

The officer said: “In the face of all these job cuts and austerity measures that everyone has to do, Dyfed-Powys police has spent in excess of £750,000 on luxury vehicles for senior officers, top of the range BMWs, BMW 4x4s and others since 2007.

“It is asking for a council tax increase but how would the public feel knowing that the Chief Constable and senior officers have been given £50,000 cars for their own use and then they go cap in hand to help to pay for them?”

Freedom of Information data published on the force website lists BMW saloons, a Land Rover Discovery, Honda CRVs, an Audi Q7 and a Volkswagen Tiguan, all crossover SUVs, being used by 18 senior officers and six staff members in 2010.

Between 2007 and 2010 eleven cars were sold for a total of £53, 5875.

“During Operation Sage they asked for suggestions to save money. One was for them not to have these cars, but they just brushed it away.

“It’s caused an awful lot of animosity between senior and other officers,” added the officer.

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys police said: “The Authority provides a cost effective car scheme for chief officers and senior managers.

“Vehicles allocated to senior managers are also used by other officers and staff to carry out police business or to respond to emergency and non-emergency calls.

“Senior managers and their families are able to use their vehicles for private mileage but only at their own personal expense.

“The Force purchases vehicles at significantly reduced rates and has a mixture of saloon cars and 4x4s to meet different policing needs.

“The use of 4x4s is needed because we cover the largest geographic area of any Force in England and Wales serving rural communities.

“We have carefully considered whether the car scheme should be continued, but have concluded that it remains the most cost effective means of providing transport for our senior managers.”