Welsh Lib Dems stop WAG dictating safety in North Wales - Burnham

5.08.00pm GMT Wed 7th Mar 2007

Eleanor Burnham AM has today to block the Labour Assembly government plans to cut funding available for policing in North Wales.

Labour's Finance Minister Sue Essex moved a motion seeking to cap the amount by which police precepts could rise, limiting what our police could spend on making North Wales communities safer.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales said: "The Labour government in Cardiff has no right to dictate how much money is sufficient to keep people in North Wales safe.

"We have a North Wales Police Authority that knows first-hand the problems facing the region and the best way to tackle them, yet Labour think they can squeeze our police force into a corner by capping their council tax precept.

"An independent survey commissioned by the authority showed that 75% of people across North Wales would rather pay more than 5% in order to maintain and improve the services our Police Authority offer.

Ms Burnham was backed by her colleague Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Leader Mike German, who said: It cannot be right that the Labour Party in Cardiff knows better than the police authority in North Wales what funding it needs to keep its area safe. Devolution means giving power and freedom to those closest to the situation.

"If the police authorities in North Wales need more cash to keep their communities safe, then Labour should listen to their concerns, not stifle them."

Ms Burnham continued: "The Labour Assembly government questions the North Wales Police who are tackling crime on people's doorsteps in North Wales, but they won't question the ridiculous waste of money their party in Westminster is proposing with the introduction of ID cards, which is not only a gross waste of funds but a clear blight on our civil liberties.

"Labour here in the Assembly refuses to acknowledge both the needs and opinions of people in North Wales and the expert opinion of the North Wales Police Authority. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are listening and have voted for a safer Wales by opposing Labour's cuts.

"I am extremely pleased that we were able to block the Minister's motion. This is a clear success for a safer North Wales. However, the principle of capping hasn't gone away and we need to watch the future attempts of Labour to slash policing budgets carefully."

Notes/nodiadau:

Eleanor Burnham will be making a keynote speech on A Safer Wales on Sunday at the Welsh Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Swansea.

Ends/diwedd