WALES’ four Police and Crime Commissioners are to be questioned by MPs over the future of policing and proposed UK Government reforms.

The Welsh Affairs Committee will hold a session on 8 July to examine what planned changes in the Police Reform Bill could mean for Wales.

A White Paper published in January set out plans to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners, the elected officials responsible for overseeing police budgets and setting the overall strategy for individual forces in England and Wales.

In England, those responsibilities are expected to pass to elected regional mayors or council leaders. However, it remains unclear who would take on those functions in Wales.

The White Paper also raised the prospect of merging some of the 43 territorial police forces across England and Wales, but there is no firm detail yet on whether Wales’ four forces could be affected.

The session will allow MPs to question the PCCs from Dyfed-Powys Police, South Wales Police, North Wales Police and Gwent Police about the likely impact of the proposed reforms.

Committee members are also expected to discuss wider policing issues affecting Wales, including violence against women and girls, the use of facial recognition technology, and whether policing should be devolved to the Welsh Government.

Ruth Jones MP, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, said the session would be an important opportunity to examine what the reforms could mean for Welsh communities.

She said: “If PCCs are to be abolished, it is essential that any new arrangements ensure police forces in Wales remain clearly accountable to the public and that communities continue to have a strong voice in shaping policing priorities.

“We also want to explore views on the optimal number of forces for Wales and the importance of striking a balance between efficiency and preserving a strong understanding of local needs.”

Call for evidence

Ahead of the session, the committee is inviting written evidence from academic and policy experts.

It is asking how Welsh police forces should be held to account if PCCs are abolished, what lessons should be learned from the current model, and what the optimal number of police forces for Wales should be.

The committee also wants views on how other parts of the UK Government’s policing reforms could affect Wales, and the arguments for and against devolving policing to the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Affairs Committee is a House of Commons select committee. It scrutinises the work of the Wales Office and UK Government policies that affect Wales.

A PEMBROKE Dock man has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting assaulting his former partner and his young son.

Paul Griffiths, aged 40, of Stranraer Road, Pennar, appeared for sentence this week after pleading guilty to offences arising from two separate incidents.

The court heard that, on April 16, 2022, Griffiths assaulted his former partner during an argument concerning their child.

During the dispute, he either pushed or threw a chair, which struck her leg and caused bruising.

A second incident took place on March 13, 2026, during an argument between Griffiths and his son.

The court heard that another adult intervened and told the pair to stop arguing. After the child may have thrown a teddy bear at him, Griffiths grabbed his son by the neck with both hands.

The adult stepped in and pushed Griffiths away from the child. The boy was left with reddening to his neck.

‘Utterly ashamed’

Sentencing Griffiths, the judge described the offences as “appalling”.

“You should be utterly ashamed of yourself,” the judge told him. “You assaulted your partner and your own son. You’ve lost your good character.”

For the assault on his former partner, which was classified as actual bodily harm, the judge found the offence to be of medium culpability and imposed a sentence of 24 weeks’ imprisonment.

A further eight weeks’ imprisonment was imposed for the assault on his son.

Griffiths was sentenced to a total of 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

He was also made subject to a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Police in Milford Haven and Neyland assisting Warwickshire officers in appeal to trace 23-year-old

MILFORD HAVEN and Neyland police have issued an appeal to help locate a man wanted in connection with a rape investigation.

Officers are assisting colleagues from Warwickshire Police, who are seeking information on the whereabouts of 23-year-old Rhys Trott in connection with a rape allegation in Nuneaton.

Police say Trott is believed to have links to the Milford Haven area of Pembrokeshire.

In a public appeal, Warwickshire Police said they are keen to trace Trott as part of ongoing enquiries.

Anyone who has seen him or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Warwickshire Police through their website or by quoting the relevant incident details.

Milford Haven and Neyland Police shared the appeal on social media on Tuesday (June 3), asking local residents to come forward with any information that may assist officers.

Photo caption:

Rhys Trott, 23, is wanted by Warwickshire Police in connection with a rape investigation and is believed to have links to Milford Haven (Pic: Warwickshire Police).