SCRAPPING PCCs MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY FULL WELSH DEVOLUTION OF JUSTICE AND POLICING POWERS – PLAID CYMRU

Plaid Cymru call for distinct Welsh legal system following UK Labour announcement to scrap PCCs

Abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners must be accompanied by the full devolution of justice and policing to Wales, Plaid Cymru has said.

The UK Labour government announced today that police and crime commissioners are to be scrapped in England and Wales.

There are currently 41 commissioners under the system, introduced 12 years ago by former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.

Plaid Cymru has long argued to abolish the role of Police and Crime Commissioners but its justice spokesperson in the Senedd Adam Price MS said the move must ‘be accompanied by the full devolution of justice and policing powers’. 

Mr Price said Labour had dragged their feet on the devolution of justice and policing for Wales for years, despite three independent commissions all fully supporting ‘the transfer of justice powers to Wales’.

The Plaid Cymru spokesperson called on the Labour government to formally request those powers and to ‘stop waiting for Westminster’s permission to deliver justice for our communities’. He added a Plaid Cymru government in Wales would be ‘resolute’ in demanding the powers to build a better justice system for Wales.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for justice Adam Price MS said,

“Plaid Cymru has long argued for the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners, due to our strong belief that policing should not be politically motivated. We therefore welcome today’s decision, but this must be accompanied by the full devolution of justice and policing powers.

“Establishing a distinct Welsh legal system and ensuring our police forces are accountable to the Senedd would be vital steps towards a fairer Wales and a confident, self-governing nation. Yet Labour have been dragging their feet for years, showing a complete lack of ambition for Wales.

“Over a quarter of a century since devolution, Wales remains the only devolved nation without its own legal system and powers over its police forces. There is no rational basis for that.

“In the past decade, three independent commissions, including most recently the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, have all fully supported the transfer of justice powers to Wales. Their message is clear: the system should be simplified, and responsibility should sit where accountability already lies – here in Wales, where the decisions impact us most.

“The Labour Government in Wales must now formally request those powers and stop waiting for Westminster’s permission to deliver justice for our communities. Plaid Cymru government if elected next year will be resolute in standing up for Wales and in demanding the powers we need to build a fair and effective justice system that truly serves our people.”

Speaking in the House of Commons earlier, Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies added,

“Today’s statement makes crystal clear the absurd complexity of an England-and-Wales justice system.

“The UK Government will look to the Welsh Government to help replace the PCC system in Wales – but has refused that same government powers over policing.

“Does the Secretary of State now concede that the Welsh Government is best placed to control policing in Wales – and that devolving the entire justice system to Wales makes the most logical sense?