Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:22 pm on 23 March 2021.
First Minister, it's clear that, if the Welsh Conservatives win the Senedd election, one of the first things they will do is sack 500 police community support officers in Wales. At their last UK conference, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives made their position completely clear when he said:
'Those things that are devolved will be managed by my Government, and those things which are not devolved will be managed by Boris.'
And he went on to say that they will defund what is not devolved. That is their promise, First Minister.
Community safety is at the forefront of all our minds at the moment. Policing is not devolved, yet the 500 police community support officers are paid for by the Welsh Government because a Tory Government won't. In Pontypridd, we value their contribution to public safety and the role that they have played during the COVID pandemic, and we see what a difference they make in helping to solve anti-social behaviour. Will you confirm your continued support and commitment to community safety and the role of our Welsh police community support officers?