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Mick Bates

Press Releases 2007

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Welsh Liberal Democrats will put the focus on crime in the Assembly today, calling on the Government to fund an extra 500 police community support officers in Wales.

The motion – which also brings together other Welsh Liberal Democrat policies to cut crime including devolution of powers over policing and prisons – will be debated this afternoon.

Speaking ahead of the debate, social justice spokesperson Mick Bates said: “I want people to feel safe in their communities. Yet at present ordinary people are having their lives ruined by anti-social behaviour. A vital part of this is having a visible police presence, whether police officers or PCSOs.

“Labour has been in power for the last decade and talked about being ’tough on the causes of crime’ from before they were elected. However, violent crime continues to rise, conviction rates for some offences are notoriously low, anti-social behaviour is still a major problem that affects the quality of life of many people. Prisons are overflowing with judges being told not to sentence offenders to prison if they can help it. The criminal justice system is a mess and the UK Labour Government swinging between reactive policies, inaction and oppressive actions has undermined it.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats want funding plans in place to enable the recruitment of 500 additional PCSOs over the next four years.”

In addition to the Home Office, matched funding to support PCSOs can be provided by local authorities, Parish councils, Universities, Colleges and schools, Local markets, Local transport providers, Chambers of commerce, Local businesses, and other organisations and bodies interested in safer neighbourhoods.

For example, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Council, Brackla Community Council, Prince Charles Hospital, Royal Glamorgan Trust, Princess of Wales Hospital and Swansea University together provide 50% funding for 10 PCSOs in the South Wales police area.

Mr Bates added: “PCSOs do a great job at the heart of our communities. They offer a visible presence in ensuring community safety and helping the police in preventing and tackling crime.”

Notes:

Full text of todays motion from the Welsh Liberal Democrats follows below.

Further press releases will follow.

Motion
 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Calls on the Assembly Government to:

a) Put funding plans in place to enable the recruitment of 500 additional PCSOs over the next four years;

b) Lobby the Home Office to fully refund police forces in Wales for any money spent on the aborted police merger process;

c) Lobby the Westminster Government to apply the Barnett Formula to the funding it provides for police forces in Wales;

d) Call on the Westminster Government to abandon plans for ID Cards and spend the money instead on paying for more police officers;

e) Further develop restorative justice schemes; and

f) Argue the case for the devolution of powers on policing and prisons to the National Assembly for Wales.