Westminster Retains Policing Control as Wales Devolution Row Erupts

Key Points

• The UK Government has ruled out handing control of policing and criminal justice to Wales, triggering fresh political debate over whether the Senedd should take responsibility for law and order.
• South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies said ministers were “right” to block further devolution, warning that separating Welsh forces from England would weaken efforts to tackle organised and cross-border crime.
• His comments follow an exchange in the House of Commons, where Liz Saville-Roberts pressed the Home Secretary on transferring powers to Cardiff Bay.
• The Government confirmed it does not believe policing and criminal justice should be devolved.
• Mr Davies said proposals from Plaid Cymru and other devolution campaigners ignore how crime and communities operate in practice, stating, “The Senedd must not be put in charge of policing.”
• He added that Senedd ministers have an “appalling track record on law and order” and that reforms must “reflect the reality that many Welsh communities look east towards England far more than they do to other parts of Wales.”
• Senior police officers have echoed that concern, including Amanda Blackman, Chief Constable of North Wales Police, who said her force area is “very much connected from a criminality perspective” to Merseyside and Cheshire.
• Chief Constable Blackman noted, “Our population move, if you like, is more east to west, west to east than it is north to south,” pointing to the daily flow of commuters, shoppers and offenders across the border.
• Wales currently has four territorial forces – Dyfed-Powys, South Wales, Gwent and North Wales – but funding, legislation, prisons and the courts all remain under Westminster control.
• Supporters of devolution argue this creates a “jagged” system, where services like health, housing and education are run by the Senedd but justice is not.
• Plaid Cymru has repeatedly called for Wales to follow Scotland and Northern Ireland, both of which run their own justice systems.
• A Plaid source said: “Communities in Wales should not have to rely on London to decide how their streets are policed. Justice should sit alongside the other services that deal with the causes of crime.”
• Critics warn that splitting away from England could come at a high price, including new administrative structures, courts oversight, inspection bodies and funding arrangements.
• Practical questions remain around serious organised crime, counter-terrorism and specialist units that currently operate across England and Wales.
• Former policing leaders have cautioned that criminals do not respect borders, and intelligence-sharing could become more complicated if systems diverge.
• For rural areas such as Mid and West Wales, including Pembrokeshire, officers often work closely with English counterparts on drugs, county lines and cross-border burglary gangs.
• With the current Government making clear it has no plans to devolve the powers, the issue appears unlikely to change in the short term, though constitutional reform is regularly debated ahead of future elections.

Cardiff Bay (Cardiff Daily) February 02, 2026 – The UK Government has ruled out handing control of policing and criminal justice to Wales, reigniting a fierce political debate over whether the Senedd should ever assume responsibility for law and order in the principality.

Why Did the UK Government Reject Devolution of Policing Powers?

The decision stems from a recent exchange in the House of Commons, where Plaid Cymru peer Liz Saville-Roberts pressed the Home Secretary on transferring policing and criminal justice powers to Cardiff Bay. The Government confirmed it does not believe these areas should be devolved, maintaining that Westminster control ensures a unified approach across England and Wales.

South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies welcomed the stance, describing ministers as “right” to block further devolution. As reported in the Wales Herald, Mr Davies warned that separating Welsh police forces from their English counterparts would weaken efforts to tackle organised and cross-border crime.

Mr Davies emphasised that proposals from Plaid Cymru and other devolution campaigners fail to account for practical realities. “The Senedd must not be put in charge of policing,” he stated, adding that Senedd ministers have an “appalling track record on law and order.”

What Do Senior Police Officers Say About Cross-Border Crime?

Senior officers have voiced strong concerns that align with Mr Davies’ position. Amanda Blackman, Chief Constable of North Wales Police, recently highlighted the interconnected nature of crime in her region. As noted in coverage by the Wales Herald, Chief Constable Blackman said her force area is “very much connected from a criminality perspective” to Merseyside and Cheshire.

“Our population move, if you like, is more east to west, west to east than it is north to south,” she explained, underscoring the daily flows of commuters, shoppers and offenders across the England-Wales border. Mr Davies referenced such views, insisting that reforms must “reflect the reality on the ground” and that many Welsh communities orient eastwards towards England rather than other parts of Wales.

This perspective is particularly relevant for border regions, where police collaboration is routine.

How Is Policing Currently Structured in Wales?

Wales operates four territorial police forces: Dyfed-Powys, South Wales, Gwent and North Wales. Despite this, core elements such as funding, legislation, prisons and courts remain firmly under Westminster’s remit. This arrangement has long been a point of contention in constitutional discussions.

Supporters of greater devolution describe the setup as a “jagged” system. While the Senedd oversees services like health, housing and education, justice remains reserved to the UK Parliament, creating perceived inconsistencies in policy-making.

Plaid Cymru has consistently advocated for Wales to emulate Scotland and Northern Ireland, both of which manage their own justice systems. The party argues that Cardiff-based decisions could better tailor policing to Welsh priorities, with increased investment in prevention and integration with mental health, youth services and social care.

What Are Plaid Cymru’s Arguments for Devolving Justice?

Plaid Cymru positions devolution as essential for holistic crime reduction. A Plaid source, quoted in the Wales Herald, asserted: “Communities in Wales should not have to rely on London to decide how their streets are policed. Justice should sit alongside the other services that deal with the causes of crime.”

The party contends that localised control would enable more responsive strategies, linking law enforcement with social interventions unique to Welsh contexts. This call echoes long-standing campaigns for parity with other devolved nations.

What Are the Cost and Complexity Concerns of Devolution?

Opponents highlight substantial financial and logistical hurdles. Establishing a separate Welsh legal and prison system would necessitate new administrative structures, courts oversight, inspection bodies and funding mechanisms. Critics, including former policing leaders, warn of high costs and operational disruptions.

Practical challenges loom large for serious organised crime, counter-terrorism and specialist units, which currently function seamlessly across England and Wales. These leaders have previously cautioned that criminals do not respect borders, potentially complicating intelligence-sharing under divergent systems.

In rural areas like Mid and West Wales, including Pembrokeshire, officers routinely partner with English forces to combat drugs, county lines operations and cross-border burglary gangs. Such collaborations could face strain if devolution proceeds.

Is There Appetite for Policing Devolution in the Short Term?

The current UK Government has signalled no intention to devolve these powers, rendering immediate change improbable. Responsibility for law and order thus stays with Westminster, at least for the foreseeable future.

Nonetheless, policing remains a perennial issue in Welsh politics, frequently resurfacing in constitutional reform debates ahead of elections. The argument over who should control Wales’ justice system shows no signs of abating, with both sides entrenched in their positions.

Andrew RT Davies’ intervention has amplified Conservative opposition, framing devolution as a risk to public safety. Plaid Cymru, meanwhile, persists in its push for greater autonomy, citing democratic and practical imperatives.

This debate underscores broader tensions in UK devolution, where Wales trails Scotland and Northern Ireland in certain powers. As reported across Welsh media, the standoff reflects deep divisions on how best to govern law enforcement in a border-sharing nation.

The four Welsh forces continue operations under national oversight, but calls for change persist from pro-devolution advocates. Chief Constable Blackman’s remarks illustrate the cross-border dynamics at play, particularly in North Wales.

Mr Davies’ critique of the Senedd’s record adds a partisan edge, accusing ministers of inadequacy in maintaining order. Plaid’s response emphasises community control, arguing that Westminster distances decision-making from local needs.

Cost concerns dominate unionist arguments, with warnings of duplicated bureaucracies and strained resources. Rural policing interdependencies, vital in places like Pembrokeshire, further bolster resistance.

Liz Saville-Roberts’ Commons query keeps the issue in Westminster’s spotlight, prompting the Government’s firm rebuff. This exchange has catalysed renewed media scrutiny, as seen in the Wales Herald’s detailed coverage.

Ultimately, while the status quo endures, the devolution question endures as a live wire in Welsh politics. Future elections may yet shift the landscape, but for now, policing powers reside securely in Westminster.