Labour and Plaid leaving Welsh police out of pocket, Welsh Lib Dems warn

12.00.00am GMT Thu 6th Dec 2007

A poor funding settlement from the Assembly Government for Welsh policing could mean fewer bobbies on the beat, Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice spokesperson Peter Black warned today.

"The below-inflation increase means that Welsh police authorities simply won't be able to provide the same services for less money, never mind putting more police officers to work in our communities.

"Welsh police forces are already under financial strain. Last year's failed police merger was pushed by Labour - but it was the police authorities who were left out of pocket.

Local Government spokesperson Jenny Randerson AM said: "Since the Home Office have stopped funding the 101 non emergency number, it won't be rolled out across Wales. This would have taken the strain of answering non-urgent 999 calls away from blue light services and saved police authorities money.

"The Labour-Plaid Government have given a poor settlement to local councils, and now the police will be out of pocket. This can only lead to council tax rises, and could mean cuts to Welsh policing. This simply isn't good enough for the people of Wales."