Police force "Rush to judgement" risks alienating Wales

4.50.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Oct 2005

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike German AM warned that the Home Office's "rush to judgement" on creating more remote police forces will lead to resentment in Wales.

The Chief Constables of Wales's four police forces have been instructed by the Home Office to submit proposal for the future of the Welsh police. It is widely feared that the Government wants to create a single force for Wales.

Mr German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "The Government's rush to judgement risks creating more problems than it solves.

"Charles Clarke has Demanded that Chief Constables submit plans to fit the Home Office's blueprint . His haste in wanting it done and dusted by Christmas leaves the people of Wales and the Assembly out in the cold. Council taxpayers here want the police to retain their links with the communities they serve. Those who contribute so much to the running cost of the police must be listened to.

"This merger process is being led by the large cities of England - what may be right there, doesn't necessarily follow for Wales. Effective community policing is the bedrock of the service in Wales - a single, unwieldy force covering all the country cannot hope to provide the same local level of service.

"Charles Clarke says he wants the process to be 'designed owned and led by the Service'. But the reality is that he is forcing this re-organisation on the police in Wales - where the present system works well. It isn't broke, and it doesn't need fixing."