News

Wales warned against single police force as Lib Dems cite Scotland ‘lesson’

Published

5 months ago

January 26, 2026

Party says centralisation could reduce local accountability and weaken neighbourhood policing, especially in rural communities

THE WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have warned that any plans which would see Wales’ four police forces merged into a single national force risk repeating problems associated with police centralisation in Scotland, and could leave communities with fewer officers on the streets and less responsive local policing.

The party’s comments come amid growing debate over UK Government policing reforms expected to be set out in the coming weeks. Ministers have spoken about reshaping how policing is organised across England and Wales, with proposals aimed at strengthening the national capability to tackle serious and complex crime while, in theory, allowing local forces to concentrate more on neighbourhood priorities.

However, the Welsh Liberal Democrats say the Government has yet to outline precisely how the reforms would affect Wales, including whether force mergers are being considered. They argue Wales must not be pushed towards a model that makes policing more remote, less accountable, and less focused on local crime — particularly in rural and semi-rural communities where residents already report long response times and limited police visibility.

The party says centralisation can create distance between local communities and those who set priorities, and warns that large, centrally managed structures can become dominated by regional or national demands. They also argue that rural crime, anti-social behaviour, repeat nuisance offending and lower-level offences — while not always classed as “serious” — have a significant impact on quality of life and can be deprioritised when decision-making is pulled away from local areas.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats point to Scotland, where the creation of a single national force was followed by repeated criticism from communities and campaigners who felt local policing became less connected to the places it serves. They claim centralisation can result in fewer staff, more officers being pulled into desk-based roles, and a widening gap between policing strategies and community expectations.

Instead, the party argues the focus should be on rebuilding neighbourhood policing, restoring front desks and public access points in communities, and ensuring officers are visibly present and locally accountable. They say residents want policing that is rooted in local knowledge, with officers who understand persistent problems on estates, in town centres and across rural areas.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also renewed their call for policing and justice to be devolved to Wales, arguing that decisions about policing structures should be made closer to the communities affected and reflect Wales’ distinct geography and needs. They say uncertainty created by proposals being developed in Westminster underlines the case for Welsh communities to have a direct say over how they are policed.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said the Government had not yet made clear what its reforms would mean for Wales, but warned against any move towards a single Welsh force.

“The Government has not yet made clear exactly what its reforms will mean for Wales, but any plans that would see Wales’ four forces merged into one would be a serious mistake,” he said.

“We’ve seen the risks of centralisation before: after the police merger in Scotland, communities ended up with fewer staff, more officers behind desks, and policing that felt more distant and less responsive.

“People in Wales want local, visible policing, officers who know their communities and can focus on the crimes that affect people day to day. A one-size-fits-all model risks pulling officers away from neighbourhoods, particularly in rural areas.”

The four Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners have come together to make the following comment: “We recognise and support the need to modernise policing and the UK Government’s White Paper provides us with that opportunity. Policing in Wales operates within a distinct public service landscape, shaped by close partnerships with Welsh Government, local authorities, health services, and our NGO partners. The partnership approach we have developed over many years here in Wales has been praised by successive governments, and any review of the policing model and structures must reflect this work. It must also consider the evidence of what works best for the communities and people of Wales. Vital to this is the commitment that policing is rooted in the communities they serve, we strengthen neighbourhood policing and that we maintain and enhance local accountability. As locally elected representatives, Welsh PCCs are committed to playing a full and meaningful role in designing future arrangements for Wales, ensuring continuity, stability, and democratic accountability during any transition. The UK Government must now demonstrate how the regional and structural change it is proposing would enhance local accountability and deliver the best possible service to our communities.”

With particular regard to policing in North Wales, PCC Andy Dunbobbin comments: “In North Wales, day to day policing activity is closely linked to the North West of England through established patterns of serious and organised crime, including county lines drug supply, organised acquisitive crime, and the movement of offenders across borders. Operational effectiveness relies on well embedded joint working with neighbouring English forces, regional organised crime units, and partner agencies to manage risk, safeguard vulnerable people, and disrupt criminal networks. Any change to policing structures must support these operational realities and avoid introducing barriers that could undermine intelligence sharing, joint tasking, or rapid operational response.”

Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Ifan Charles said: “Police leaders are united in calling for bold and ambitious reform which delivers a world class service for our communities, officers, staff and volunteers.

“The priority for policing is and will always be victims of crime, and the services and support we provide to victims and the communities we serve. In that sense, it is business as usual for now.

“Crime is changing, technology is evolving, and we need to be set up in the best possible way to tackle crime in the modern world, relentlessly focused on good quality neighbourhood policing alongside national threats.

“I am committed to doing my utmost to ensure any changes to policing are right for the people of Dyfed and Powys, and together with my fellow Chief Constables in Wales, ensuring we deliver the best possible service to Welsh communities.”

Farming

Reform calls for urgent review of farming scheme

Published

11 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LOW UPTAKE HAS RAISED FRESH QUESTIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF SUPPORT FOR WELSH FARMERS

REFORM WALES has called for an urgent review of the Sustainable Farming Scheme after figures showed only around half of eligible farmers have signed up.

The party said the lower-than-expected uptake showed that serious concerns remained within the farming community over the complexity of the scheme, compliance rules and uncertainty about how it will operate in the long term.

Laura Anne Jones MS, Reform Wales’ Shadow Cabinet Minister for Food, Farming and Rural Affairs, raised the issue during questions to the Welsh Government.

She said: “The figures released by the Welsh Government today confirm what many farmers have been saying for some time: the Sustainable Farming Scheme is too complex, too restrictive and too bureaucratic.

“Farmers need certainty and security, not endless paperwork and rigid requirements that fail to reflect the realities of farming in Wales.

“Reform Wales believes the scheme should be reviewed as a matter of urgency, with a greater focus on flexibility, common sense and practical outcomes.

“Welsh farmers deserve a scheme that works with them, not against them.”

The Sustainable Farming Scheme is due to replace previous systems of agricultural support in Wales and has been one of the most contentious issues facing the rural sector.

Farming unions and campaigners have repeatedly warned that any new system must be practical for family farms and must not add unnecessary red tape at a time when many businesses are already under pressure from rising costs, bovine TB and market uncertainty.

Reform Wales said the Welsh Government must now explain how it intends to respond to the level of take-up and whether changes will be made before the scheme is fully rolled out.

Health

Wales has highest stillbirth rate in UK for third year running, charity says

Published

11 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Sands calls for urgent targets to reduce baby deaths and improve mental health support for bereaved parents

WALES has recorded the highest stillbirth rate in the UK for the third year in a row, according to baby loss charity Sands.

The charity has called for urgent action from the Welsh Government following the publication of the latest MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality surveillance report, which tracks stillbirths and neonatal deaths across the UK.

Sands says there has been a lack of political focus on maternity safety and saving babies’ lives in Wales, despite repeated reviews.

The charity is calling for clear national targets to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths, as well as action to eliminate inequalities linked to ethnicity and deprivation.

Aidan Smith, Wales campaign lead for Sands, said: “There has been a lack of political focus and attention on maternity safety and saving babies’ lives in Wales in recent years.

“There has been review after review, but little change. At Sands, we are supporting bereaved parents across Wales to campaign for targets to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths and eliminate inequalities by ethnicity and deprivation.

“Bereaved parents are calling for accountability. Targets to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths will help ensure that saving babies’ lives becomes the political priority it should be.”

Sands says England introduced targets to reduce baby deaths in 2015, helping focus political decision-making and transparency.

Mr Smith said analysis by the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit suggested that more than 1,000 babies in Wales may have survived if stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates had matched the best performing countries in Europe between 2019 and 2023.

The charity wants the Welsh Government to introduce new targets running to 2035, including reducing the stillbirth rate to 2.0 stillbirths per 1,000 total births, and reducing neonatal mortality to 0.5 deaths per 1,000 live births for babies born at 24 weeks’ gestation and over.

It is also calling for inequalities in baby loss linked to ethnicity and deprivation to be eliminated.

Mr Smith said Wales also needed better monitoring of maternity outcomes, including a national data dashboard to track changes over time and identify differences between health boards and population groups.

He said more complete data was needed on ethnicity and social risk factors to understand which families were most at risk of pregnancy and baby loss.

Sands has also raised concern about a lack of specialist psychological support for bereaved parents in Wales.

Mr Smith said there was currently only one specialist NHS service providing mental health support to bereaved parents, the Onnen service in Cardiff and Vale.

He said: “The Welsh Government must evaluate the Onnen service in Cardiff and Vale and expand this to all health boards across Wales.

“All bereaved parents in Wales should have access to specialist psychological support regardless of where they live, the type of pregnancy or baby loss they experienced, or how long ago it was.”

The Welsh Government said support was available to families affected by pregnancy loss and pointed to work taking place across health boards.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy is devastating. Families who experience pregnancy loss at maternity units in Wales are supported by bereavement midwives, in conjunction with Sands, and offered memory boxes, which include a certificate of birth.

“Since 2016, stillbirth rates in Wales have shown a downward trend. The latest Perinatal Mortality Surveillance report acknowledges that in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, year-to-year variation in rates is often more pronounced because of lower birth numbers.

“All health boards are committed to improving quality and safety in perinatal care – through enhanced clinical reviews, early warning surveillance, safer preterm birth care, and structured learning from incidents.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board said it recognised “how devastating the loss of a baby is for parents and their families” and said its maternity and neonatal teams worked to provide safe, compassionate and supportive care.

Dana Scott, Director of Midwifery and Professional Governance for Women and Children at Hywel Dda, said the health board had “robust safety measures and clear clinical processes” in place across its maternity services.

She said Hywel Dda’s review processes were aligned with MBRRACE-UK and the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool, ensuring the health board listened, learned and reflected on each baby loss.

Ms Scott added that every family affected by stillbirth or neonatal death had access to dedicated bereavement midwives and nurses, as well as psychological support, follow-up care and opportunities for memory-making.

She said the health board also worked closely with its local Sands group and remained committed to learning from national reports to improve maternity safety locally.

Sands said the new Welsh Government now had an opportunity to act.

Mr Smith added: “Bereaved parents across Wales are campaigning for accountability and change. The new Welsh Government has a chance to reset the narrative by implementing targets to save babies’ lives, eliminating inequalities in loss by ethnicity and deprivation, and rolling out specialist mental health support for bereaved parents across Wales.”

Sands provides support to anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, including a confidential helpline, email support, online groups and local peer-support networks.

Community

Bellringers praised at St Davids Cathedral service

Published

11 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SERVICE was held today at St Davids Cathedral for the annual meeting of the Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Fr Jim, the guild’s chaplain, led the service, during which the Bishop of St Davids preached and thanked members for their dedication to churches across the diocese.

He spoke about the important role bells play in marking moments of worship, celebration and remembrance, and said he had been personally moved when bells marked significant points in his own ministry.

The guild is keen to encourage new people to take up bellringing and says it is a friendly and approachable group for anyone interested in getting involved in church life.