Reacting to last night’s vote in the House of Lords to remove clauses in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill which give the go-ahead to Police and Crime Commissioners, Cllr Russell Roberts (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Deputy Leader and Chair of South Wales Police Authority said:
“We welcome this vote and fully support the many concerns that were raised during the debate about the proposal to establish Police and Crime Commissioners to replace Police Authorities. The WLGA has vehemently lobbied against such a change as we firmly believe that the current arrangements are strong enough to hold the police to account. In Wales all parties within local government and all police authorities believe that our own governance and accountability arrangements for policing are fit for purpose and effective, something which the current plans fail to achieve.”
“The WLGA has also supported the call from the National Assembly’s Communities and Culture Committee to postpone the introduction of Commissioners in Wales until the model has been tried and tested and for there to be a more consensual and partnership approach between a Commissioner and Panel to setting policing priorities. Both these points were well made in the debate in the Lords and we will continue to lobby against the proposals as they currently stand. There is much that is wrong in this Bill and we urgently call on the UK Government to re-think their plans and listen to the many concerns that have been identified.”
Steve Thomas, WLGA Chief Executive added:
“Following the unprecedented vote earlier this year in the National Assembly for Wales whereby they refused to give power to the UK Government to legislate to establish Police and Crime Panels in Wales through local authorities, we now urge the new Assembly Government to come forward with its own solution.
“The Wales Labour Party Manifesto refers to the establishment of an Independent Commission to review governance and service delivery arrangements of public services in Wales. The WLGA believes that policing must feature in the terms of reference for such a Commission, in particular arrangements for police accountability. We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the relevant Welsh Minister to discuss how we can work together to influence the UK Government to hear and respond to the specific context of policing in Wales.”
