Adam Price raised reports that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering cutting the number of police forces in Wales and England from 43 to 12 through mergers.
The former Plaid Cymru leader told Senedd members the reforms would represent the “biggest upheaval” of police forces since the 1960s.
Warning that the Welsh Government was not consulted on plans to scrap police and crime commissioners, he said:
“No change should happen – a merger for example – without full Senedd scrutiny and a Welsh democratic mandate.”
Mr Price suggested an all-Wales model – merging the four police forces, similar to what happened in Scotland in 2013 – could have benefits, but said governance would be critical.
Calls for Accountability and Devolution
During topical questions on December 17, Mr Price argued that a single police force would need to be accountable to the Senedd, with powers over policing devolved to Wales.
The MP-turned-Senedd member also urged the UK Government to rule out any cross-border mergers that could see a Welsh force absorbed into an English one.
Welsh Government Response: ‘Unconfirmed Speculation’
Responding for the Welsh Government, Jane Hutt described the widespread media reports as “unhelpful, unconfirmed speculation”. However, she confirmed that the UK Government is expected to publish a white paper in the new year.
She said she would engage with Sarah Jones, the UK policing minister, who was due to attend a meeting of the Welsh policing partnership board on December 18.
Ms Hutt told the Senedd she had been assured that the UK Government recognises the differing governance arrangements between Wales and England.
Conservative Criticism and Alternative Proposals
Conservative MS Altaf Hussain urged the Welsh Government to abandon calls for devolving powers over policing and justice to Wales.
He said:
“There is merit in having a single unified police force for England and Wales – if only to tackle dysfunctional forces like Gwent Police, who have allowed a culture of misogyny to persist amongst their officers and leaders.”
Ms Hutt responded that any reforms would present a natural opportunity to consider the role of the Welsh Government and Senedd in accountability for policing in Wales. She said the current focus is on a phased approach, beginning with powers over youth justice and probation.
Cross-Party Calls for Clarity
Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, called for a clear timetable for the devolution of youth justice and probation.
“We need more devolved powers,” she said.
Labour’s Alun Davies agreed, accusing UK ministers of placing Ms Hutt in an “invidious position” by forcing her to respond to hearsay about a fundamental public service.
He said:
“This is the second time in two months… this simply isn’t good enough.”
‘Groundhog Day’ Debate Over Mergers
Mr Davies criticised Labour colleagues in the UK Government for, in his view, failing to recognise longstanding calls for policing to be devolved.
“That needs to happen,” he said. “It needs to happen as soon as possible.”
He added that Labour in Wales did not support proposals for nationalising policing across England and Wales:
“We’ve never had a national police force in the UK – we don’t want one today.”
Conservative Mark Isherwood described the debate as “groundhog day”, recalling a 2005 review of policing when mergers were previously proposed.
He said:
“To recognise the regional cultural and geographical differences that exist within Wales, all agreed that Wales must be policed in regions.”
However, independent MS Rhys ab Owen argued that Wales’ four police forces “make no sense at all”, pointing to Police Scotland as evidence that a unified force can “flourish”.
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