Wales' voice must not be lost in Home Office haste

3.00.44pm GMT Tue 1st Nov 2005

Home Office haste is denying Wales a proper say in how its police are organised, according to Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike German.

Under questioning from Mr German, Assembly Minister Jane Hutt today admitted that the government would not be able to fight proposals to create a single police force covering all of Wales.

Mike German said: "The Home Office's rush to judgement on this issue is denying the people of Wales a proper say. I find it amazing the Assembly Government currently has no view. It is playing a waiting game, but waiting is surely the wrong tactic at a time when the Home Office is acting with undue haste."

At question time today Mr German pressed for an Assembly Government response, only to be told that the government would await the publication of a report by the Social Justice and Regeneration Committee which only meets for the first time on Thursday. Home Secretary Charles Clarke has demanded proposals by the end of the year.

Mr German also called on Ministers to lobby their colleagues in Westminster to devolve control of the police to Cardiff. He said: "Welsh Police do not operate in isolation. They work with local authorities, and the other emergency services - indeed, the First Minister has told me he wants them to work more closely together.

"Surely it makes sense for decisions about the police in Wales to be made in Wales, rather than by the MP for Norwich South."

Notes:

The exchange took place in the Assembly chamber during First Minister's Questions this afternoon. Business Minister Jane Hutt was deputising for the First Minister.