- Cymraeg
- English
 |
Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
 |
Labour's failure to fund costs of aborted merger will leave communities paying the cost.
November 7, 2006 2:27 PM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has joined forces with the Welsh Liberal Democrat member of the local Police Authority, Councillor Claire Waller, to warn that a shortfall in funding the costs of the Government's aborted merger proposals will hit policing in local communities.
South Wales Police Authority submitted a claim for £326,944 to cover their costs in responding to the government's initiative, however the Home Office have said that they will only pay £100,000. The shortfall of £226,944 will now have to be met from the main policing budget and that will have an impact on the effective policing of local communities say the two politicians.
"This badly thought out initiative was always more about Labour's need to be seen to be doing something - anything - than it was about strengthening neighbourhood policing or the fight against terrorism," said Mr. Black. "It was a huge waste of scarce police resources. Rather than offer this measly compensation as though they were doing South Wales Police a favour; they should give all the money back. Failure to do so will lead to the cash being taken from resources reserved to pay for the policing of our local communities."
"The amount of money Labour is offering is mean-spirited and derisory," added Councillor Waller. "£100,000 is a shade over 30% of the direct costs that South Wales Police claimed from the Home Office. It is unacceptable that our local police force should be left over £200,000 out of pocket as a consequence of making preparations for Labour's all-Wales merger, which they had not sought nor wanted."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats