The Seventh Senedd has debated devolving policing and justice, which Plaid Cymru ministers describe as a priority, while Conservative and Reform Members question it. Members also argued over whether Wales needs its own grooming gangs inquiry, the summer wildfires and fire service capacity, and legal aid, youth justice and tribunals.
The main arguments
Dafydd Trystan Davies (Plaid Cymru), Carrie Harper (Plaid Cymru) and Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour) call it an anomaly that Wales lacks policing powers held by Scotland, Northern Ireland and English mayors, and cite the Thomas, Silk and constitutional commissions. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Peter Fox (Welsh Conservatives), and Paul Marr, Steven Rodaway and Nigel Williams (Reform UK) say the Government should deliver with existing powers first, and that constitutional work diverts attention from public services. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Dafydd Trystan Davies says the UK Government's police reform is a chance to press the Welsh case. He says Wales would keep cross-border co-operation and that any single national force needs local accountability at least as strong as now. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Darren Millar, Peter Fox (Welsh Conservatives) and Llŷr Powell, Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK) want a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry. Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) and Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) say Wales is within the UK statutory inquiry. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Elfyn Llwyd, the Counsel General, says youth justice should be an early step towards devolving justice. Cristiana Emsley (Reform UK) asks what objective test must be met and whether devolution would improve outcomes for children. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour) and Carrie Harper (Plaid Cymru) raise legal advice deserts. Elfyn Llwyd says legal aid is reserved, cites Law Society figures that 82 per cent have no local legal aid welfare provider, and will raise it with the Ministry of Justice. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On the summer wildfires, Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) says the response fell short, and Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives) says the resilience framework barely mentioned wildfire. Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) defends the response and acknowledges the risk was under-identified. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Where the parties stand
Plaid Cymru
Ministers Dafydd Trystan Davies, Sioned Williams and Carrie Harper say policing and justice should be devolved, citing independent commissions. They say the NHS, schools and the economy remain priorities, and talks with the Home Office are under way. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Welsh Conservatives
Peter Fox asks what is being done with powers already held. Darren Millar, Sam Rowlands and Fox press for a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry, and Millar asks about the UK Government's position on the Thomas commission. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Reform UK
Paul Marr, Steven Rodaway and Nigel Williams say existing delivery problems should be fixed before more powers are sought. Cristiana Emsley and Llŷr Powell back a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry, and Steve Bayliss presses for a costed fire service plan. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Labour
Mike Hedges supports devolving policing, calling it an anomaly. Huw Thomas says Wales is covered by the UK grooming gangs inquiry. Jayne Bryant and Lynne Neagle press the Government on the wildfire response and funding. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds says the current settlement harms women, as Wales has no women's prison. She asks the Government for a plan and timetable to secure powers, and for the promised Swansea residential women's centre. Contributions: [1]
What the government is being pressed on
1Jane Dodds asked for a plan and timetable for securing justice powers. Dafydd Trystan Davies replied that meetings are arranged with the UK policing minister and Home Office, and talks with chief constables, commissioners and local government are planned. Contributions: [1][2][3]
2Llŷr Powell asked what the new constitutional commission will cost. Dafydd Trystan Davies said officials told him the previous commission cost £1.5 million, with a budget line from the previous Government. Contributions: [1][2]
3Steve Bayliss asked for a costed fire service plan by 31 October. Rhun ap Iorwerth said he could not give that assurance, as a summit on 22 October will assess capability, resources and threats. Contributions: [1][2]
4Darren Millar asked what discussions had taken place with the inquiry chair and whether a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry would follow. Delyth Jewell replied that Wales is within the statutory inquiry's scope and pointed to the Welsh child sexual abuse strategy. Contributions: [1][2][3]
5Cristiana Emsley asked what test youth justice devolution must meet. Elfyn Llwyd replied that the three commissions considered the legal implications and that piecemeal devolution lets down young people and families. Contributions: [1][2]
What the public is asking for
The petitions provided ask for stronger licensing of high-occupancy visitor accommodation (1,767 signatures), a statutory public inquiry into school safeguarding failures in North Wales (115) and a review of social housing rules on anti-social behaviour for disabled tenants (9). All are open.
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met police bodies, including the Policing Partnership Board for Wales, commissioners, a chief constable and the Police Federation. They have also met UK policing ministers, Lord Hogan-Howe, youth justice and probation bodies, the prison service, the Welsh Tribunals president, a fire service and an academic.
In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)
From the previous Senedd's record, for issues that run across both. The rest of this analysis covers the Seventh Senedd only.
In the Sixth Senedd, devolving justice and policing was debated alongside youth justice, probation and tribunals. Plaid Cymru Members accused Labour of narrowing its ambitions, while Conservatives questioned cross-border policing. Fire and rescue governance and deaths at HMP Parc were also major concerns.
Mick Antoniw (Welsh Labour) argued that devolving youth justice and probation made it illogical not to devolve policing. In 2024 he called policing devolution inevitable in due course, while prioritising youth justice and probation. Contributions: [1][2]
Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) said Labour had been rowing back from the Thomas commission to youth justice alone. Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) quoted the shadow Welsh Secretary calling the calls 'fiddling around with structures and systems'. Contributions: [1][2]
Mark Isherwood (Welsh Conservatives) argued that Wales differs from Scotland and Northern Ireland because an estimated 95 per cent or more of north Wales crime operates across the border with England. Contributions: [1]
After the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service culture review, Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru) said the Government had failed to reform governance for years. Jenny Rathbone (Welsh Labour) described fire authorities as insufficiently accountable and unwieldy. Contributions: [1][2]
Written by AI on 23 October 2026 from 156 contributions in the Senedd between 19 May 2026 and 19 October 2026, with the petitions and ministers' meetings on this brief. Each point links to the contributions it draws on; check them before quoting. How the analysis is written.
What the government has promised
The Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 belongs to the Seventh Senedd. Choose the Seventh Senedd to see how often each commitment has come up.
Demanding fairness from Westminster: Powers for a purpose
Pursue the full devolution of justice and policing to Wales with the urgency this deserves.
Establish a national approach to coordinate crime prevention and diversion across police forces, NHS Wales, local authorities, schools, and third‑sector partners – sharing best practice and addressing the root causes of crime.
Bring forward a Welsh Tribunals Bill early in the Senedd term, to create a clearer, more coherent and more independent tribunals system – with modernised procedures, stronger accountability, and a sharper focus on improving the experience of service users.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
From the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government's latest press releases and Cabinet statements on this brief.
The Welsh Government is urging witnesses to support victims and report hate crime, as new figures reveal the continuing impact of hatred and prejudice on individuals and communities.
In the news
The latest headlines on this brief, linking to each outlet's story.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Sixth Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 2.6%.
Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 27 since the 2026 election; the latest:
27 September 2026
National Police Memorial Day, Belfast
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
24 September 2026
Welsh Probation Development Group with Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
24 September 2026
Wales Probation Development Group
Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
10 September 2026
Wildlife and Rural Crime consultation launch
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
10 September 2026
North Wales Police Headquarters
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
3 September 2026
Ian Barrow, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service with Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
2 September 2026
Dr Rob Jones, Senior Lecturer in the Welsh Criminal Justice System with Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution
2 September 2026
Dr Rob Jones, Senior Lecturer in the Welsh Criminal Justice System
Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality
40% of Welsh adults said crime and policing would be very important to their vote.
Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.
Written questions
No written questions on this brief in the Sixth Senedd yet.
Petitions
No petitions on this brief opened in the Sixth Senedd.
In committee
Committee sessions where this brief was on the agenda, newest first.
As the Sixth Senedd comes to an end, reform of the Welsh Tribunals remains unfinished business. Despite commitments made by the Welsh Government, legislation was not introduced to deliver the reforms.
Despite the Welsh Government’s long-term commitment to devolving justice, progress has been slow since the Commission on Justice in Wales published its report over six years ago.
Welsh Government policy has taken a distinct approach to youth justice - one that prioritises prevention, rehabilitation, and the rights of children over punitive measures.
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2023, December 2024, February 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025, June 2025, July 2025, August 2025, September 2025, October 2025, November 2025 and December 2025.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
January 2023
0
February 2023
0
March 2023
0
April 2023
0
May 2023
0
June 2023
0
July 2023
0
August 2023
No sittings
September 2023
0
October 2023
0
November 2023
0
December 2023
0
January 2024
115
February 2024
175
March 2024
467
April 2024
155
May 2024
94
June 2024
147
July 2024
68
August 2024
1
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
