Responding to yesterday’s Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, ‘Working Together for Safer Communities’, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood referred to the action being taken by Wrexham County Council to tackle the drug problems in Wrexham Town Centre and asked what engagement the Welsh Government is having with them.
He also referred to the key role that third sector partners play in the delivery of community safety, and to the concern expressed by the four Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales over their inability to access the £2 million they've paid for the Apprenticeship Levy.
Speaking in the Chamber he said:
“In the North Wales context, you'll be aware of many references to the situation in Wrexham town centre, largely driven by synthetic drugs like black mamba and spice. A year ago, here in a debate on substance misuse, I quoted the Chair of the North Wales Safer Communities Board who said that too much is being spent on firefighting and not enough on intervention and prevention. He is now the Deputy Leader and Lead Member for People, Communities, Partnership, Public Protection and Community Safety in Wrexham, and he says that having learned from their experiences, that Council is bringing together a body of professionals working in a way that is now seen as an exemplar. So, what engagement will you have or are you, perhaps, already having with that exemplar to see how you can learn together about ways that might benefit all in the future?
“You refer many times to partnership in different contexts and you refer to the third sector being one of those that has worked in the Review Group. But how - or - will you recognize the key role that third sector partners will play in the delivery of community safety as we go forward? A key, direct front-line role is played by Drug and Alcohol Charities in Wales: organisations like the British Red Cross welfare service—I went out with them in Wrexham a few weeks ago; street pastors; organisations like the Wallich dealing with homelessness issues, and so on, without whom the statutory bodies could not deliver.”
He added:
“Previously, I've repeatedly raised concerns expressed by the four Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales over their inability to access the £2 million they've paid for the Apprenticeship Levy and their statement that it will result in fewer police officers and in recruits choosing to sign up across the border in English forces instead. When I raised this with the First Minister, he said, 'We have received a share of that and we will use that money to pay for apprenticeships, but we cannot...pay towards...schemes that sit in non-devolved areas.'
“Yet, the Welsh Government received £128 million, which was actually an £8 million extra sum above the reductions in other areas. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales told me two weeks ago the situation had been delayed as it was Carl Sargeant who was going to bring together the Westminster and Cardiff Governments' stakeholders. He said that due to the very sad and sensitive events in recent weeks, this had not been taken forward and he said it's now for the new Cabinet Secretary to decide whether to continue with the commitment of the previous Cabinet Secretary on this issue. Can you indicate, alongside the welcome work with PCSOs, that you will take up, or are taking up, the work that Carl was taking forward on this area? Whatever the reasons, whatever the whys and wherefores, this must be resolved if we're not going to have a negative impact.”
Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Isherwood added: “It is concerning that the Cabinet Secretary’s statement included lots of considerations, explorations and aspirations, but no timescales or review dates. His dialogue about the ‘devolution settlement’ was also concerning when the issues I raised related to Welsh Government responsibilities, and his call for the devolution of policing to Wales defies reality.
“Most people in Wales live along the M4 and A55 corridors, separated by a vast rural area, and very different policing requirements. My contacts in both North Wales Police and the North Wales Police Federation have repeatedly told me that they have a closer affiliation with north-west England than the rest of Wales.”