Following recent reports of an overhaul of policing in the new year, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to ensure that key findings of a 2005 review of policing structures are revisited.
In a Topical Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip in the Senedd yesterday on reports that the UK Home Secretary is considering cutting the number of police forces in Wales and England from 43 to 12 through mergers, Mr Isherwood said the review carried out over 20 years by the Assembly's Social Justice and Regeneration Committee, led to the abandonment of merger plans across England and Wales.
He said that this past scrutiny work remains relevant to the current Government proposals and called on the Cabinet Secretary to ensure the UK Government considers it.
He said:
"I was actually a member of the sub-Committee of the Assembly's Social Justice and Regeneration Committee which reviewed the structure of policing in 2005, when mergers were proposed then. We carried this out at the request of the then UK Home Secretary via your predecessor and colleague at the time, Edwina Hart.
"Our report noted that criminal activity does not recognise national or regional boundaries and that cross-border partnerships must reflect operational reality. Our detailed scrutiny work on behalf of the UK Home Secretary considering the then proposed Welsh Police Merger led to police mergers being aborted across England and Wales.
"The Welsh Local Government Association, Police Authorities and Chief Constables all agreed that the issue was fundamentally about finance. They identified a £79 million deficit by 2012-13, adding that this was by no means a worst-case scenario, which would see the deficit rising to £100 million. In order to recognise the regional, cultural and geographical differences that exist within Wales, all agreed that Wales must be policed in regions. North Wales Police Authority at the time in particular supported a strong regional element, with real delegated powers."
He added:
"This is very much groundhog day, déjà vu, all over again. I'd be grateful if you could confirm whether you will ensure that the UK Government considers the reports that we then produced, the work that we then carried out on behalf of the UK Home Secretary, and the decision he then took on the basis of the detailed work that we carried out here."
Responding, the Cabinet Secretary said:
"I have mentioned a number of reports that have been undertaken that we have commissioned, which have been commissioned in partnership, as well, with the UK Government, the former UK Government, and the Silk Commission, I would say particularly. But, of course, we will be looking at all of the reports, and thank you for reminding us of the work you did."
