Gwenda Thomas AM

Neath AM Calls For Caution

Gwenda Thomas calls for caution as South Wales Police plans to reduce its operational budget by £47 million.

Chief Superintendent, Mark Marthias, has highlighted that the force plans to close all but one of their police stations in Neath Port Talbot. I applaud the western division's focus on maintaining a strong police presence on the streets yet, fear the closure of stations will have a permanent impact on local communities.

Due to the horrendous budget cuts carried out carried out by the Westminster coalition government, South Wales Police has had to face its worst settlement in many years. I would urge South Wales Police to plan carefully when making cuts to its operational budget and ensure that communities still have the opportunity to contact support staff. I am also concerned that extremely qualified members of staff now fear for their jobs, as a result of the coalition's cuts.