Crime is a top concern for residents of Ogmore-By-Sea. This is usually a quiet, peaceful village. But a few years ago, it unexpectedly became the scene of a mass brawl. Nowhere is completely safe from the risk of violent disorder.
This is why a tough approach to maintaining law and order is required. Those responsible for putting the safety of others at risk must face the full consequences of their actions. Police need the powers to do whatever it takes to stop them.
It was not surprising to hear residents echo these views when we were out door knocking yesterday. No one had heard about Plaid Cymru separatists’ calls to devolve policing to the Senedd. When we informed them, the expressions on their faces said it all.
To give an honest assessment, there hadn’t been much love for the Senedd on the doorstep of late. People don’t think Senedd ministers are doing a good job. They look at the state of the health service, of education standards and economic development. They think we deserve better. They’re right.
Giving Senedd ministers more powers would be disastrous. They’re not coping with the things they’re in charge of now. More responsibilities is the last thing they need.
We also need to talk about what devolving policing and justice would mean – a separate legal jurisdiction for Wales. More powers for the Senedd is part of the separatists’ salami slice strategy to break up Britain. We must not give in.
No more powers must be devolved. And other separatist projects, like Senedd expansion, must be reversed. We need to end the idea that once devolution has been expanded, we can’t roll it back. The people of Wales won’t stand for 36 more Senedd members. The new politicians need to go.
One final point – when you look at how Senedd ministers view criminals, can they really be trusted to run policing? These are the people who want to give prisoners the vote. That isn’t law and order. That’s a soft, pro-criminal, anti-victim approach.
It’s always good speaking to the public. They tell it as it is. The views expressed in Ogmore-By-Sea on Saturday couldn’t contrast more starkly with the opinions I hear from Plaid Cymru separatist and Labour Senedd members.
The political class in Wales is out of touch.