First Minister is rolling over for Home Office on police changes

3.36.39pm GMT Tue 15th Nov 2005

Fundamental changes to the police force in Wales are failing to receive the full attention of the First Minister, it emerged today.

At First Minister's Questions Rhodri Morgan was put on the spot by Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike German who has been one of the leading defenders of the existing police structure in Wales. Mr Morgan admitted he had done nothing on the issue as it was a matter for the Home Office - despite the fact that the Assembly and council taxpayers fund half the cost of our policing directly.

Mr German said: "Rhodri Morgan always has a view on who should be Wales' outside half; he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of economic statistics, yet on the question of policing he has shown he knows nothing and has no opinion.

"He claims everything is 'up for grabs', but the reality is that the Home Secretary is railroading Wales in to having a single, merged police force. The Home Secretary is refusing to listen to views from Wales - insisting that only a single force can meet his criteria. He completely ignores the fact that most people in Wales want to keep their local force, and the strong bonds that exist between our four police forces and their communities.

"The rest of Wales is outraged that the Assembly and council tax payers in Wales have had no voice in a major decision about how we are policed. This is simply unacceptable, and I am stunned at the First Minister's lack of concern at how he has been sidelined in this process. His failure to stand up for Wales is compounded by his inability to see that he should have done more. "

Notes:

At Questions, Mike German asked:

First Minister, I've been raising with you and your colleagues for some weeks now the effects of the threatened police re-organisation on a number of issues, including that of the council tax that is paid in Wales and where the funding will come from to pay for the re-organisation. Don't you agree with me that its disgraceful that the Home Secretary has announced that only one outcome will fit his strait jacket in Wales, before anyone, including this Assembly, has been able to think fully through all the options?