Mike German's comment on Charles Clarke's Welsh Police announcement

5.20.00pm GMT Thu 10th Nov 2005

Comment from Mike German on Charles Clarke's announcement that there is only one option for Welsh Police.

Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "We are outraged. The original consultation period was too short to start with. Now Charles Clarke has short circuited what little time there was and made up his mind for Wales.

"People will see through the cynical timing of this announcement as typical Labour spin. They have rushed out a headline grabbing announcement to deflect attention from their defeat over the '90 days' terrorism legislation.

"Charles Clarke is dictating to Wales. He is ignoring the Chief Constables who wanted more time to consider the proposals; he isn't even waiting to hear the views of the Assembly committee which only started meeting last week.

"This is unacceptable behaviour from the Home Office, stamping hard on any notion that the people of Wales should have any say in how they are policed. This is a dark day for devolution in Wales, and bad news for the thousands of people in all parts of Wales who want to preserve their local police force."