Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Labour under fire for backing Tories on Policing cuts

Labour supports a betrayal of 300 who could lose their jobs

Plaid Cymru’s Rhodri Glyn Thomas, candidate for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, has voiced his dismay that the Labour party is supporting the Tory-led Westminster Government’s ability to cut front line policing jobs in the county.  Rhodri Glyn Thomas who is seeking re-election after 12 years as an experienced Assembly Member, said that the Labour party has betrayed police officers in Carmarthenshire by supporting the notion that all decisions about policing and community safety should be taken by the Tories and Lib Dems in Westminster.

Plaid Cymru has called for the devolution of policing and the transfer of associated funding so that decisions on local policing can be taken in the local communities.  Plaid Cymru’s calls received majority support in a recent opinion poll and has also had the backing within police forces in Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said it was inconceivable that the Labour party would not want to devolve responsibility for Policing to the National Assembly when almost 1600 policing jobs are under consideration – 300 of which are in the Dyfed-Powys Constabulary. 

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“Figures show that 1,197 police officers work in the Dyfed-Powys Constabulary with the prospect now of 300 jobs – 25 per cent – of the workforce being under threat.

 

“Labour’s refusal to support the devolving of Policing should leave the party searching on how it can claim to be standing up for Wales when it is willing to let the Tories seriously affect our community safety.

 

“Dyfed-Powys Police do a fantastic job and has been dealt a savage blow by the Westminster government because of the financial legacy of the Labour party, not through fault of their own. 

 

“Carmarthen East & Dinefwr needs a strong Assembly Member who will stand up for our communities and offer alternative solutions to Westminster cuts.  The Labour party is happy to blame to Tories for the cuts, but has absolutely no ideas or back bone when it comes to standing up for our county”

 

ENDS/DIWEDD

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