- Conference
- 2024 Police, Probation and CAFCASS Conference
- Date
- 19 June 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the devolution of policing and justice to the Senedd (Welsh Government) is a constitutional question and since the establishment of the Senedd in 1999, has been characterised by the work of various commissions aimed at establishing how the current settlement between UK and Welsh government delivers for Welsh communities. For policing and justice this has been described as a ‘jagged edge’ ( ‘The Welsh criminal justice system on the jagged edge 2022’) The silk commission 2014 and Thomas commission 2019 recommended the devolution of policing to Wales, although support for devolution is not universal. The Thomas Commission, and their position of looking at a Welsh legal jurisdiction to improve the operation and performance of the justice system in Wales, began a notable shift in policy and political discourse in Wales as to how this might best be achieved.
Pursuing the devolution of policing and justice is a commitment in the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government 2021 – 2026. In May 2022, the Welsh Government published ‘Delivering justice for Wales’ reiterating their commitment to pursuing the devolution of justice, and indicating an intention to focus in the first instance on the potential devolution of policing, youth justice and probation.
The most recent report ‘ Preparing for the devolution of Policing in Cymru / Wales March 2024 authored by Carl Foulkes and Emma Ackland provides a wide ranging analysis of current policing arrangements in Cymru / Wales and considers potential risks and benefits going forward in relation to devolved policing.
Conference calls on the Police & Justice Service Group Executive to work with UNISON Cymru / Wales to identify the potential benefits & risks of devolving policing to Wales.