Shadow Minister for Communities and Policing, Mark Isherwood AM, has this afternoon commended police forces in Wales for cutting crime and said devolving policing could undo all that good work.
Speaking in the Assembly Debate on the Police Settlement for 2016 -17, Mr Isherwood said the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners marked a real act of devolution, but the devolution of Policing to Cardiff called for by Labour would put this into reverse.
He said:
“As my contacts in North Wales Police keep reminding me, most people live along the M4 and A55 corridors, separated by a vast rural area and with very different policing requirements – and their operational priority is working cross border with North West England.
“And as Gwent’s Former Deputy Chief Constable, Mick Giannasi, has written, although the list of potential benefits for the devolution of policing was a relatively short one and ought to have been achievable within the existing arrangements, the potential consequences were much easier to identify.
“He also questioned whether the Welsh Government had developed the resources or the experience to oversee policing.
“Although he stated that the relationship between the four Welsh police forces and the Welsh Government has been constructive, he believed that if the role of Welsh Government changed to one of accountability and delivery, that would inevitably result in a change in the nature of its relationship with the Police service and one which may ultimately prove to be less productive.”
Mr Isherwood added:
“In November the Chancellor announced that Police Budgets would be protected in line with inflation – and the counter terrorism budget increased by 30%.
“With the Home Office floor mechanism, this means a 0.6% reduction for 2016-17 - and with the Welsh Government’s contribution resulting in a comparable overall reduction - I again commend the generally positive way that Police and Crime Commissioners have determined their 2016-17 Police Precept.
“This will deliver increases in the amount Council Tax payers pay towards police services of 5% in South Wales, 4% in Gwent, 2% in North Wales - and a payment freeze for Dyfed Powys households. As South Wales Police Federation have previously stated, increases there close the precept gap with other Welsh Forces.
Mr Isherwood added:
“This UK Government has made it easier for the police to do their job by cutting red tape, scrapping unnecessary targets, and giving forces the discretion to use their professional judgement. Under Labour, our police were bogged down in paperwork.
“This UK Government has cut red tape and given police just one simple target - to cut crime.Crime has fallen by more than 30% since 2010, according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales.”
Mr Isherwood sent his best wishes to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Winston Roddick, who has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in May.
He said: “His time in office has seen an overall reduction in North Wales crime of 11% and a 10.5% fall in victim-based crime.
“His fight against child sexual exploitation in North Wales has resulted in a ten fold increase in the number of perpetrator arrests.”