Written question WQ83514

Knife crime is a blight on our communities and it is included in the UK Government’s Beating Crime plan. It is disappointing we were presented with a plan that references many areas that are devolved without prior consultation, or an understanding of the differences in Wales. It is important that, as this plan is put into action, we work to understand its applicability to Wales.

Ensuring people in Wales feel safe from crime, violence and anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the Welsh Government. Whilst tackling and reducing crime and violence is not directly a devolved matter, many of the drivers that impact community safety are devolved. We are determined to do everything in our power to make the people safe, working closely with our police and local government partners, providing funding and other support.

Policing in Wales is not currently devolved but we have a strong relationship with our Welsh police forces and there is regular engagement at both Ministerial and official level on a broad range of issues, including knife crime.

I meet regularly with the lead Police and Crime Commissioner to share and discuss emerging community issues from across Wales.

The Policing and Partnership Board for Wales, which is chaired by myself or the First Minister, provides an important and valuable opportunity for those with responsibility for policing in Wales to update Ministers on their key priorities and latest challenges.

One of our Programme for Government commitments is increase the number of Police and Community Support Officers from the current 500 to 600. We have provided extra funding and police forces are currently recruiting the additional officers and hope to have them deployed by the end of the current financial year.

PCSOs are the eyes and ears of their communities and they take a problem solving preventative approach to addressing issues within their local areas, including knife crime.