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GOVERNMENT MUST ACT ON RURAL POLICE GRANT AND CUSTODY SUITES - WILLIAMS
February 11, 2009 9:56 AM
Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, has used a House of Commons debate on police funding to call on the Home Office to ensure that rural Welsh police forces maintain their rural policing grant.
Mr Williams said:
"The current plan is to move the rural funding grant, which is distributed to a select number of forces, such as Dyfed Powys Police, into the general grant, which would result in it being available to all forces.
"It is important that the Home Office do not allow this to happen as any drop in rural funding will have to be made up by increased council tax, which often hits the poorest people in our communities hardest.
"Rural Police forces provide a vital service and it is essential that they are given sufficient funding to properly undertake their role.
"This is yet another example of how the current Labour Government is overseeing the slow death of many rural communities and services.
In the same debate, Roger Williams MP raised the issue of the lack of custody suites and called on the Minister to make the necessary capital investment to secure a custody suite in Llandrindod Wells.
Mr Williams said:
"Brecon and Radnorshire has just one custody suite, which means that prisoners often have to be escorted long distances once arrested.
"This is a waste of valuable police time and the public expect police to be carrying out their duties, not acting as a prisoner escort service.
"If the necessary investment was made in Llandrindod Wells we could have an integrated police station with custody cells, ambulance station and fire station and a magistrate's court and this would lead to a dramatic improvement in the quality of service provided by local emergency services.
NOTES:
The full text of Mr Williams' contribution can be found at: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090204/debtext/90204-0009.htm
Mr Williams has written to the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice to raise these concerns.
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