8. Debate: The Police Settlement 2023-24

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:19 pm on 14 February 2023.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 5:19, 14 February 2023

Diolch. I'd like to thank colleagues for their interest and their contributions today, and colleagues have made it very clear that we have huge appreciation for the work that police officers do in communities across Wales, and I do share those concerns that have been raised about morale amongst police officers at the moment. But, here in Wales, they are an absolutely key part of our integrated public service; they work with health boards, local government and other partners. And I think that they're absolutely incredible, really, in terms of finding creative ways to collaborate. So, they're very valued partners in our Ystadau Cymru work, for example, and they are able to bid for a number of Welsh Government funds, and we encourage them to look at ways to do that collaboratively—for example, sharing corporate services is a really good way to work closely together, and I know that they are potentially looking to expand that work through the community safety partnerships to tackle issues in our communities. 

I'd also just reiterate our ongoing support to funding additional police community support officers, and that really does reflect the understanding of the importance of that collaborative way of working. We know that, where we see greater confidence in policing in communities, it's often because there are numbers of PCSOs out on the streets, so giving communities that kind of visibility of policing that people rightly expect within their communities as well—we're really pleased to continue with our commitment to fund and increase the number of PCSOs across Wales. 

And we also continue to make very clear our support for policing to be devolved so that we can deliver against the needs, priorities and values of Wales. As we've heard, it is the only blue light service that isn't devolved to Wales, and in that context of collaborative working, you can see that there are many ways in which we could do things differently and better, were it to be devolved. I do know that there is concern amongst police and crime commissioners that this is only a marginally positive settlement this year. That is a matter for the Home Office, but we've heard very powerfully about the impact of cuts in policing over the years on our communities, and I'm very much hearing that the increasing numbers of police officers currently in no way offsets the cuts to the numbers that we've seen previously, and there is yet a way to go in some parts of Wales to make up those numbers. 

We are very much committed to working with PCCs and chief constables to ensure that the challenges that we've heard about this afternoon are managed in ways that limit the impact on community safety and on front-line policing in Wales. And of course, we continue to invest in substance misuse and that particular agenda, and our funding there has increased to £67 million in 2023-24. A large proportion of that does go to the area planning boards through the substance misuse action fund. 

And of course, the final element of police funding is raised through the council tax precept, and unlike in England, we have retained the freedom for the Welsh PCCs to make their own decisions about council tax increases. Setting the precept is a key part of the PCCs' role, and that does demonstrate their responsibility and accountability to the local electorate. I do know, though, that, in a period of increasing pressure on local households, commissioners will be considering this very carefully indeed.

Llywydd, I commend the settlement to the Senedd.