Fears over funds for police training
Welsh police forces are being robbed of £128m as both Westminster and the Welsh Government deny responsibility for funding police training, according to Plaid Cymru.
Liz Saville Roberts, the party’s Parliamentary leader, has written to Ministers in Wales and at Westminster raising serious concerns over contradictory answers received on who is responsible for training police officers.
Research by Plaid has found that, as the only country in the UK with no responsibility over policing, Welsh police forces are being denied access to Apprenticeship Levy funding despite being forced to pay the Apprenticeship Levy.
In letters to ministers in both governments Ms Saville Roberts says while the Welsh Government believes funding police apprenticeships is the responsibility of the Westminster Government, as policing is not devolved, Westminster claims the Welsh Government is responsible as training is devolved.
The situation has left cashstrapped Welsh police forces without the vital funds they need to train the next generation of police officers via apprenticeships.
Ms Saville Roberts said: “Welsh police forces are being let down by the Labour Welsh Government and the Tories in Westminster, passing the buck on responsibility.
“Not only does it show a lack of concern for how Welsh public services are funded, it could lead to serious public safety issues.
“If Wales was treated with the respect afforded to every other UK country policing would be devolved and therefore the clear responsibility of the Welsh Government.
“Yet the constitutional chaos created by successive Westminster and Welsh Governments means confusion and obscurity reigns and it is frontline policing that is paying the price.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We have been very clear that the Apprenticeship Levy is a UK Government employment tax which directly conflicts with and undermines areas of devolved responsibility. We do however recognise the concerns raised by police forces in Wales and have been making strong representation to the UK Government on their behalf.
“Responsibility for operational policing matters, including training, rests solely with the Home Office and they should therefore fund such training as policing is not devolved.
A UK Treasury spokesman said: “This year the Welsh Government will receive £128m of Apprenticeship Levy funding from the UK Government.
“There is a clear choice for the Welsh Government on whether it supports police officers by funding their apprenticeships.
“In last month’s Budget the Chancellor set out plans to increase the Welsh Government’s budget by £1.2bn.
“The Welsh Government must now get on with the job of using the levers at their disposal to improve the lives of the people of Wales.”