Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated he is open to considering the devolution of policing and criminal justice powers to Wales. The comments came during his first official visit to Wales since taking office, a visit that included a stop at the Port Talbot steelworks.
Calls for increased devolution of these powers have been ongoing, supported by Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour politicians within the Senedd. However, the previous UK Labour government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, did not pursue such plans. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had previously stated in January that overhauls to policing services would not include granting new powers to the Welsh government.
Burnham met with Welsh Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams in Port Talbot. He acknowledged the Welsh government's requests for further devolution, specifically mentioning policing as an area he is willing to discuss. "I hear that call, I'm open to the discussion with the Welsh government," Burnham said. "As part of the wider policing reform that's going on, it seems a good time to have a look at those issues."
He drew on his own experience as a former mayor, noting the benefits of localized policing. "I understand how much you can do when you can really make policing right for the places and the people where you are," he added. While he could not make immediate promises, he committed to an open conversation.
The Prime Minister also indicated that Wales' request for control over the Crown Estate, which generates revenue from land owned by the monarch, would receive a "fair hearing" at an upcoming summit.
Burnham suggested the possibility of deeper devolution, potentially leading to stronger regional ties between Wales and English areas, such as North Wales collaborating with the North West, or Mid Wales with the West Midlands. He previously advocated for revising the Barnett Formula, the funding mechanism that allocates money to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland based primarily on population share. However, he indicated that reforming the Barnett Formula is not currently on the agenda, stating, "At the moment I can't promise there will be moves to review that."
Plaid Cymru has welcomed the Prime Minister's openness. Saville Roberts of Plaid Cymru stated that devolving policing would "help keep our communities safer" and expressed hope that the consideration of devolving the Crown Estate would be a step towards "unlocking greater economic growth for communities across Wales."