Welsh Police Forces Merger Would Risk Making Policing More Distant
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have warned that any plans that would see Wales’ four police forces merged into a single national force risk repeating the failures seen after police centralisation in Scotland and could leave communities with fewer officers on the streets and less responsive local policing.
The party says the UK Government has yet to outline precisely which forces will be merged under its wider policing reforms, but that Wales must not be pushed towards a model that makes policing more remote, less accountable, and less focused on local crime, particularly in rural and semi-rural communities where residents already face long response times and limited police visibility.
The Scottish experience of police centralisation has been repeatedly cited by police professionals and communities alike, where the creation of a single force led to fewer police staff, more officers assigned to desk-based work, and a widespread feeling that policing had become distant and disconnected from local needs.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats argue that the focus should instead be on rebuilding neighbourhood policing, restoring police front desks in communities, and ensuring officers are visibly present and accountable at a local level. They also warn that centralisation risks sidelining rural crime, anti-social behaviour, and lower-level offences that have a significant impact on people’s day-to-day lives but are often deprioritised in large, centralised systems.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also argued that policing and justice should be devolved to Wales, so decisions can be taken closer to the communities affected and reflect Wales’ distinct geography and needs. They say the uncertainty created by proposals being developed in Westminster underlines the case for devolution and for Welsh communities to have a direct say over the structures that keep them safe.
Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:
“The Government has not yet made clear exactly what its reforms will mean for Wales, but any plans that would see Wales’ four forces merged into one would be a serious mistake.
"We’ve seen the risks of centralisation before: after the police merger in Scotland, communities ended up with fewer staff, more officers behind desks, and policing that felt more distant and less responsive.
“People in Wales want local, visible policing, officers who know their communities and can focus on the crimes that affect people day to day. A one-size-fits-all model risks pulling officers away from neighbourhoods, particularly in rural areas.”
ENDS
