Today (Wednesday 8 July) the four Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) from Wales faced the Welsh Affairs Committee to discuss the future of policing in Wales.
Dafydd Llywelyn, the Plaid Cymru PCC for Dyfed Powys said that his ‘ambition’ was to see the devolution of policing to the Welsh Government. He raised the point that it is something that the Welsh Government is calling for, along with the independent Silk Commission from 2014 and the 2019 Commission by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd both citing devolution as a natural progression.
PCC Llywelyn said that if the UK Government is making such a “seismic shift” in changing policing, then devolution to Wales is something he is advocating to happen now. The White Paper includes proposals such as scrapping PCCs and merging forces to reduce the number of forces across England and Wales.
Plaid Cymru MP, Ann Davies, asked the four PCCs whether they were supportive of devolution. Dafydd Llywelyn confirmed his support and said that the UK Government’s White Paper on policing should be amended to include devolution of policing to Wales.
Jane Mudd and Andrew Dunbobbin, both Labour PCCs said that they would not rule it out completely but do not think now is the right time. Emma Wools, also a Labour PCC, expressed her support for exploring the devolution of powers to Wales in particular in relation to policing and criminal justice.
Welsh Labour’s 2021 manifesto committed to “pursue the case for the devolution of policing and justice, as set out by the Thomas Commission”.
Responding to the Welsh Affairs Committee’s session, Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
“As PCC Llywelyn rightly described, Labour’s policing proposals represent a “seismic shift”, but they also present an opportunity to deliver positive change in our communities by bringing power closer to the people it serves. It was therefore disappointing to hear the non-committal responses of the Labour PCCs in relation to devolution in today’s session, especially when Welsh Labour has previously supported the principle.
“Scotland, Northern Ireland, London and Greater Manchester all hold stronger powers over policing than Wales which is completely indefensible. As the former mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham is well aware of the positive impact of devolution. The question that Plaid Cymru will be taking to him is, will his government ensure that our communities are able to benefit by delivering the powers Wales needs over policing?”
