What outcomes does the Welsh Government anticipate from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Welsh Government and Policing in Wales on 5 March 2026, and how will the success of the Memorandum of Understanding be measured?
On 5 March 2026, at my final Policing Partnership Board for Wales as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, the Permanent Secretary and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of Welsh Government with Policing in Wales.
The policing landscape is rapidly evolving, evidenced by the announcement to replace Police and Crime Commissioners at the end of their current term in May 2028, coupled with the recent publication of the White Paper entitled, ‘From Local to National: A New Model for Policing’.
Despite this changing landscape, safeguarding communities, preventing and detecting crime and addressing anti-social behaviour in Wales requires sustained trust and cooperation between partners, including local authorities and third-sector organisations. Partnership working between the Welsh Government and policing bodies in Wales is particularly important in order to foster a unity of effort and maximise the use of our collective resources to ensure communities in Wales feel safe and remain protected.
This Memorandum has been forged in partnership with Policing in Wales during the term of this Government. It represents the steadfast commitment on both sides to continue working in partnership to deliver on addressing the needs of victims and survivors of crime, taking a trauma-informed, evidence-based and anti-racist approach, to drive strategic decisions and protect communities in Wales.
Our unique devolved context allows us to collaborate, share best practice, and innovate together. By strengthening these partnerships and learning from lived experience, we ensure our approach remains robust and responsive to the unique challenges and opportunities here in Wales.
This is exemplified by the Policing Partnership Board for Wales, which I Chair. The Board provides an opportunity for Policing in Wales and Welsh Government to address community safety and crime reduction in Wales. It is a crucial forum to provide a bridge on Policing issues between the devolved and non-devolved aspects of public service, in which the police operate in Wales. The Forward Work Programme jointly agreed by the Board consolidates this joined-up vision, and provides a metric for success to support the implementation and monitor progress of the MoU.
Further, the long-standing relationship between the Welsh Government and the Police Liaison Unit allows us to consider the unique needs of Welsh policing in policy developments at both UK and Welsh Government levels, to secure the best possible outcomes for policing and community safety through clear, constructive, and strategic engagement. On a wider level, a new performance framework is being developed as part of the National Police Reform Programme, which will serve as the key means of accountability for forces in England and Wales.
The Welsh Government will continue to work in partnership with Policing in Wales through the Board, to monitor progress against the Forward Work Programme, with the united aim of keeping Wales safe and to serve our communities.