A poor funding settlement from the Assembly Government for Welsh policing could mean fewer bobbies on the beat, Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice spokesperson Peter Black warned today.
"The below-inflation increase means that Welsh police authorities simply won't be able to provide the same services for less money, never mind putting more police officers to work in our communities.
"Welsh police forces are already under financial strain. Last year's failed police merger was pushed by Labour - but it was the police authorities who were left out of pocket.
"The Labour-Plaid Government have given a poor settlement to local councils, and now the police will be out of pocket. This can only lead to council tax rises, and could mean cuts to Welsh policing. This simply isn't good enough for the people of Wales."