6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Government's anti-racism efforts in South Wales West? OQ57100

Can I thank the Member for that, Llywydd? The Welsh Government's anti-racist efforts are set out in our race equality action plan. Over 330 responses were received when consultation on the plan closed in the summer. These responses are currently being independently analysed and the results will be used to strengthen the plan still further.

Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Two weeks ago, I co-presented an anti-racism motion here in the Senedd and made the argument that all our institutions, including the police, need to be proactive in their anti-racism efforts. However, it has recently come to light that South Wales Police tried to recruit Lowri Davies, a Swansea University student and Black Lives Matter activist, as an informant, by ominously calling her, completely out of the blue, and driving her around Swansea the next day for 90 minutes, seemingly in order to gain information about BLM and other anti-racist and left-wing groups. She described the approach as like

'grooming to entice me into being an informant'.

The freedom to protest peacefully is a fundamental democratic right, and we owe all of the rights that we enjoy today—economic, social and otherwise—to groups campaigning against racism and for equality, past and present. Does the First Minister therefore agree with me that this type of behaviour from the police is unacceptable in a democracy, and will he write to South Wales Police and the UK Government expressing these concerns? Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I read the Member's powerful contribution to the debate two weeks ago, and, of course, I am aware of the very concerning reports of what happened in the case of Lowri Davies. I can assure the Member that these points have already been raised directly with South Wales Police. I'm assured that an investigation is under way into what is said to have taken place. For now, I think the right thing for me to do is to await the outcome of that investigation, and then to think of whatever further steps might be needed when we're able to see for ourselves what that investigation reveals. 

Thank you, First Minister.