Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Mark Drakeford convened a summit today (Tuesday) to pledge Welsh Labour’s support for more police community support officers, in the face of a threat by the Tories to cut numbers across Wales.
Against a backdrop of severe cuts from Westminster, Welsh Labour put 500 Community Support Officers on the streets, with extra funding for another 100 on its way.
The Conservatives have cut police to the lowest level in a generation – and they’ll cut community policing if they win in May. Over 10 years the Tories have reduced PCSO numbers across the UK by 7,000 as well as cutting police numbers by over 20,000.
Welsh Labour’s top priority is to keep you, your family and your community safe. Every day our Police and Crime Commissioners work hard to drive down crime and antisocial behaviour, tackle its root causes and ensure that criminals are brought to justice.
The online summit with Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates and Welsh Labour Ministers also showcased the work our Welsh Labour Government has done to tackle abuse.
Welsh Labour established the Live Fear Free and the Dyn helplines for women and men who are victims of violence and domestic abuse, and we introduced the ground-breaking Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act.
Earlier this month we embedded Relationships and Sexuality Education in the new Curriculum to promote healthy relationships and keep children and young people safe. Plaid Cymru voted against.
Mark Drakeford, Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister of Wales said:
“This is an election about trust and ambition. Trust because of everything we have done together to keep Wales safe.
“And ambition because beyond coronavirus we are determined in Welsh Labour to rebuild our communities so they go on being strong places into the future. That’s where our pledge for 600 PCSOs is so important.
“PCSOs have played such a part during the pandemic. It is our determination to protect the 500 we have funded for the last decade – as the Tories in London cut, cut and cut again – police numbers here in Wales. But to grow those numbers so communities in every part of Wales know they have the support to keep thriving.”
Andy Dunbobbin, Welsh Labour & Co-operative PCC candidate for North Wales said:
“During the general election in 2019 Boris Johnson came to Alyn and Deeside and promised new police officers specifically for Deeside.
“As with most things the Tories promise, these much-needed officers have failed to materialise.
“I’m really pleased that our Welsh Labour Government is continuing to honour their commitment to safer communities by continuing to fund 500 police community support officers on our streets and it’s great that you will go even further after May if elected by funding a further 100 – putting more PCSOs on our streets.
“It’s clear that a vote for Welsh Labour is a vote to make our communities safer.”
Philippa Thompson, Welsh Labour & Co-operative PCC candidate for Dyfed Powys said:
“The Tories in Wales are committed to defunding non-devolved areas of spending if they win the election – meaning that they would de-fund the vital community policing presence on our streets, placing neighbourhood policing and victims at risk – just like they have done across the UK for the last decade with their cuts.
“It was our Welsh Labour Government that stepped in and strengthened its support for safer communities by funding an additional 500 police community support officers, and it’s Welsh Labour, if elected, that will go further again and fund an additional 100 PCSOs.
“It’s clear what’s on the ballot paper this election – a vote for Welsh Labour who will make our communities safer, or a vote for the Conservative Party that will follow their colleagues in London and abolish the PCSO posts.”