The settlement that we’re discussing today for the police services shows clearly, once again, why we need to devolve policing to Wales as a matter of urgency. This settlement is worsening the financial problems facing the police here in Wales. Whilst the United Kingdom Government alleges that the settlement gives a boost of £450 million to police budgets, in reality, £270 million of the figure comes from the fact that the United Kingdom Government is giving permission to the police to raise a higher precept on taxpayers, whilst £180 million—the remaining figure—comes from the Home Office increasing central expenditure and top-slicing.

So, as we scratch the surface, it becomes clear that the financial settlement for police in the United Kingdom is misleading. This settlement means that police forces will have to choose between increasing council tax by up to £12 for each home, placing additional strain on personal finances, or, on the other hand, they’ll have to earmark further cuts, which will, in turn, endanger the safety of our communities. The United Kingdom Government plans mean a cut in real terms of £2.1 million to North Wales Police.

The Welsh Government budget has implications for North Wales Police as well. We've mentioned—Mark Isherwood spoke about the school liaison officers programme. This is an effective programme, but it’s under threat now because, in the 2019-20 Welsh Government budget, there is a significant cut. The funding is used to create opportunities for pupils in primary and secondary schools in north Wales to improve their understanding, their attitude, and their behaviour in important subjects such as alcohol, drugs, healthy relationships and antisocial behaviour. At present, the scheme is jointly funded by North Wales Police and the Welsh Government, but the cut of 44 per cent in the Welsh Government contribution to this programme will jeopardise the future of the programme, which is a cause of concern.

The case in favour of devolving policing from Westminster to our Welsh Parliament is entirely clear, and this is the time to do that. If Scotland and Northern Ireland have these powers, and Manchester will be receiving some responsibilities over policing, why doesn’t Wales receive these powers as well? Four years have gone by since the cross-party Silk commission recommended the devolution of policing powers, but we’re still no closer to achieving that. Figures from Dyfed-Powys Police show that if policing were to be devolved and funded per head of population then police forces in Wales would benefit from £25 million every year. Giving control to Wales over our police forces would ensure a better funding settlement and would also ensure that one of our most important public services would be controlled as close as possible to the communities that it serves.