Wales’ Chief Constables face questions on police reforms
Wales’ Chief Constables will be questioned by the Welsh Affairs Committee for its inquiry examining the future of policing in Wales.
The session will focus on the witnesses’ views on the UK Government’s police reform White Paper, which proposes changes to the number and structure of forces across England and Wales. The White Paper, which was published in January, says that the current policing system of 43 local police forces is ‘no longer fit for purpose’, and includes proposals to merge forces and abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).
Meeting details
The committee are also likely to ask about the use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology. The White Paper pledges to fund 40 new LFR vans to be deployed in town centres across England and Wales.
MPs may also discuss the case for devolving responsibility for policing to the Welsh Government and the progress made against the UK Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) and knife crime by 2034.
In July, the committee heard from all four Welsh PCCs, who opposed the plans to abolish the role.