PLAID CYMRU Spokesperson for Non-Devolved Matters, Steffan Lewis has said that the anomaly of Wales being the only country in the UK without responsibility for policing must be addressed in order to bring Welsh public services closer together and deliver improvements for people in Welsh communities.
Speaking in a debate in the Senedd, Steffan Lewis said that policing should be devolved to its natural place in Wales, as it is devolved to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and even to English city-regions such as Manchester.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs and Non-Devolved Matters Steffan Lewis said: “The very fact that the police force is central to our public services is reflected in the fact that the Welsh Government contributes financially towards policing here, despite having no legal powers over policing.
“Despite the fact that the emergency services in Wales collaborate well, there is evidence that it would work better still if policing is devolved.
“The police service, along with the ambulance and fire and rescue service, is one of the day-to-day public services that we depend upon, and it is an anomaly, therefore, that policing in Wales is not devolved, unlike education and health.
“In calling for the devolution of policing to its natural place in Wales, Plaid Cymru recognises that we would need sensible and mature cooperation between Welsh Government and Westminster. It is vital that a framework for close cooperation between Welsh and Westminster Ministers and between forces in Wales and forces in England is at the heart of the process.
“A clear and robust framework for mutual aid will be vital, and indeed we have good examples of mutual aid agreements between services that are devolved to Wales and their counterparts in England, and across these islands.
“Whilst the UK parties tear themselves apart over this matter, Plaid Cymru has taken every opportunity to ensure policing is included in the Wales Bill, but at every stage we have met a block of Labour reluctance and the Conservatives. We will continue to make the case for the empowerment of Wales for the good of our communities.”
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