The reduction of funding in the police settlement 2017-18 by 1.4 per cent across all forces in Wales and England comes after year upon year of cuts since 2010. We’ve seen real-term reductions of 26 per cent in funding for police forces in Wales. Police forces in Wales have shrunk. In my area, Gwent Police’s workforce has dropped by 14 per cent since 2010. The fractional devolution of policing in which the Welsh Government is responsible for contributing a small proportion of funding to forces in Wales, but does not have the power to set priorities or strategy, is an unsatisfactory compromise. Westminster continues to hold the main levers that determine policy. And it’s disappointing that we’ve seen yet another Wales Bill come and go without the full devolution of powers over policing to this country—still the last country in these islands not to have control over policing. Not only would this finally give Welsh Government the ability to design policy that is responsive to the unique needs of Welsh communities, and also to co-ordinate among other devolved functions, it would also enable better collaboration across sectors.

The devolution of policing would also leave Welsh police forces better off. The UK Government delayed the introduction of a new funding formula for police after a statistical error was discovered that would have left Wales £32 million worse off. A new formula that better reflected Welsh population trends would result in an additional £25 million for Welsh forces. So, the devolution of policing is not just a point of principle or policy pragmatism, but also of financial pragmatism too. That devolution of policing would also protect Welsh police forces from a continuing programme of Westminster cuts, and give Welsh Government the power to set policing priorities that are tailor-made for the needs of Wales.