Written question WQ100473

This government’s position is clear – justice and policing should be fully devolved to Wales, as it is in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Devolving policing has been the recommendation of a series of independent commissions, dating back to the Silk Commission in 2014. Those commissions considered the potential cost implications, among others, in reaching their clear conclusions, noting that we are currently incurring unnecessary costs and disruption by the day-to-day management of the tensions between devolved and non-devolved agendas. Devolution can help us reduce this friction and divert resources into service delivery.

Preparing for the Devolution of Policing in Wales, authored by Carl Foulkes and Emma Ackland in March 2024, explored the opportunities and challenges of a devolved policing model for Wales. This report, commissioned by the previous Welsh Government, considered which functions currently provided on an England and Wales basis might continue to be provided through existing arrangements, and which might be delivered through separate Welsh provision. The report made several recommendations, which are being considered alongside the changing policing landscape.

That said, decisions on where functions should ultimately sit will need to be made in the light of the arrangements for police service delivery in England and Wales at that point in time. Significant changes to policing are being proposed by the UK Government. The UK Government White Paper From Local to National, published in January 2026, set out a series of radical reforms to policing services, structures and governance arrangements. This includes the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners from 2028 and the establishment of a National Police Service, whose functions remain under consideration by the Home Office. The White Paper also included notification that other significant changes would follow independent reviews – for example:

• An independent review on the funding of police forces in England and Wales, which has the potential to significantly alter the financial implications of reform and devolution of policing;

• The Police Leadership Commission, co-chaired by Lord Blunkett and Lord Herbert was published in July 2026 and called for a radical overhaul of police leadership. The commission made 27 recommendations aimed at strengthening leadership, accountability, and professionalism. These recommendations are currently under consideration by the UK Government and are likely to have significant impacts on specific bodies and functions such as the College of Policing; and

• An independent review of police force structures, led by Lord Hogan-Howe. This review is due to report in the autumn. Welsh Ministers will review the recommendations and work with the Home Office to consider the implications for Welsh forces.

All the above changes have the potential to affect how functions are best allocated after devolution, what new bodies might be required, and the costs involved. The exact functions and bodies that would be transferred will be identified and agreed in conjunction with the UK Government under any devolution agreement. What is clear is that the UK Government is already proposing significant changes with cost and disruption factored in, so this is the best time for devolution - have one round of significant change, use the same legislative vehicles, and build devolution into the rebuild of the services' structures and governance at the same time.