DYFED-Powys Police have reassured the public over changes to frontline services after a petition expressed fears of cuts to response teams in Lampeter, Aberaeron and Cardigan.

The petition states that response teams in the three towns will be replaced by one dedicated officer per shift based in Newcastle Emlyn - but the force says "there are no plans to reduce response officers in Ceredigion."

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable for Dyfed Powys, Emma Ackland, says that changes being implemented in November "will not jeopardise our ability to respond to calls from those at risk or vulnerable."

Responding to the petition on Change.Org she posted: "We’ve taken the unusual decision to sign this petition because we want to respond to your concerns.

"It is important that we are able to respond to 999 calls, and you will know that in order to cover the vast size of our force area, that we draw on many sources, including response officers, roads policing units, dog units and neighbourhood teams, ensuring that we have the skills and capacity to keep you safe.

"Our commitment to numbers within all of these teams remains the same.

"However, the demand analysis and feedback from victims has indicated that we need more officers on duty in the late afternoon and evening than we currently have, and we need more officers available to carry out investigations.

"We only have a finite number of resources and have therefore had to make some changes. These changes have created new roles, removing some of the barriers that we know impact negatively on our service.

"I can assure you that the demand analysis undertaken tells us that the new ways of working do not jeopardise our ability to respond to calls from those at risk or vulnerable.

"We have a communications plan, supported by updates from your local teams – this follows intensive consultation both within Dyfed-Powys Police, and engagement with victims of crime.

"Should you continue to have concerns, please feed these in through your local neighbourhood teams, as we are keen to hear and resolve these.

"The new model will be under continual review as we want to ensure we are providing the best possible service."

Petition organiser Dinah Mulholland said: "The petition gained over 200 signatures within 24 hours, against the planned downgrading of local police response teams in Lampeter, Aberaeron and Cardigan.

"Many local police officers are extremely concerned about the implications of this reconfiguration of frontline police services."