'Devolution of policing would be operational insanity and financial lunacy'

MS for North Wales

Speaking in the Debate on the Police Settlement 2022/23, I noted the UK Government’s £1.1 billion Police funding increase, the extra funding to meet the UK Government’s commitment of 20,000 additional officers across Wales and England by 2023, the overall 8.4% funding increase for North Wales, and the over £500,000 received by North Wales Police from the UK Government’s “Safer Streets” and “Safety of Women at Night” Funds.

I also said that devolution of Policing would be “operational insanity and financial lunacy”, where “As I learned when I visited ‘TITAN’, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, an estimated 95% or more of crime in North Wales operates on a cross-border East/West basis and almost none on an all-Wales basis, and North Wales Police therefore collaborate with 5 North West England Police Forces to tackle serious Organised Crime”.

Questioning the First Minister, I called on him to respond to the North Wales residents running legitimate self-catering accommodation businesses denied Welsh Government support following his introduction of Alert Level 2 restrictions In December. As one told me “because of the restrictions put in place on pubs and restaurants my guests chose to spend the festive period in parts of the UK”. As another said, “My only income comes from our Self-catering Business. We have been impacted by 100% decrease in bookings December – February. We feel discriminated against”.

The First Minister’s response that “there were no restrictions on their ability to operate” was insulting to them.

Questioning the Health Minister, I noted that although the Welsh Government has committed to the World Health Organisation target to eliminate Hepatitis C as a significant public health threat by 2030, Governments in the rest of the UK have accelerated their elimination target date – in England and Northern Ireland to 2025 and in Scotland to 2024 - and therefore called on her to review the Welsh Government’s target date.

As Chair of the Senedd/Welsh Parliament’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee I both attended the meeting of the Chairs' Forum, an informal committee of Senedd Committee Chairs; and met with Audit Wales and the Auditor General for Wales to discuss Audit Wales strategy.

Other online meetings included a follow up with the Welsh Government and other North Wales MSs regarding the development of Border Control Post facilities in Holyhead, a stakeholders meeting regarding work to re-open Pont Dolgarrog pipe bridge in the Conwy Valley, and the launch of the Cross-Party Group on Rural Growth.

If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.