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Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 3 February 2026

Debate

Police Reform White Paper

Contribution

My Lords, I welcome the publication of the much-anticipated White Paper on the future of policing across England and Wales. I particularly welcome the focus on neighbourhood policing to better address everyday crime. However, the White Paper has not addressed the unfairness of policing powers being withheld from Wales compared with the other devolved nations. Three independent commissions—the Silk commission, the Thomas commission and the McAllister commission —have recommended the devolution of policing to Wales. It might be helpful for the House to be aware that, in First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd today, the First Minister stated: “I want to make it clear that the Welsh Government has been clear that we want policing to be devolved to Wales”. She went further to explain that the motivation behind this is to have “better provision for the people in Wales”. Will the Minister join the First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour colleagues in the Senedd who are making the case here in Westminster for the devolution of policing to Wales?

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