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| Police chief's M4 crashes threat | Police chief's M4 crashes threat |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A senior police officer has said her force will stop responding to accidents on the M4 from April - unless dedicated traffic officers are introduced. | A senior police officer has said her force will stop responding to accidents on the M4 from April - unless dedicated traffic officers are introduced. |
| South Wales Police chief constable Barbara Wilding said the force could no longer afford to direct traffic or clear debris after routine crashes. | South Wales Police chief constable Barbara Wilding said the force could no longer afford to direct traffic or clear debris after routine crashes. |
| Ms Wilding also said that without more funds she would have to charge major event promoters full policing costs. | Ms Wilding also said that without more funds she would have to charge major event promoters full policing costs. |
| These would include pop concerts, football and rugby matches. | These would include pop concerts, football and rugby matches. |
| Speaking to BBC Wales, Ms Wilding said she had been telling senior assembly government ministers for two years that the force would be facing cuts in the services it delivers without more money, but to no avail. | Speaking to BBC Wales, Ms Wilding said she had been telling senior assembly government ministers for two years that the force would be facing cuts in the services it delivers without more money, but to no avail. |
| The work of dealing with accidents, directing traffic and clearing debris should either be done by new traffic officers from the Highways Agency, or be funded through extra money for policing, she said. | The work of dealing with accidents, directing traffic and clearing debris should either be done by new traffic officers from the Highways Agency, or be funded through extra money for policing, she said. |
| "We will be building a business case to the Welsh Assembly Government to say if you want us to carry on policing the motorway, responding to those issues, then you must pay for it," said Ms Wilding. | "We will be building a business case to the Welsh Assembly Government to say if you want us to carry on policing the motorway, responding to those issues, then you must pay for it," said Ms Wilding. |
| "If you don't pay for it, we will no longer be doing it. | "If you don't pay for it, we will no longer be doing it. |
| Chief constable Barbara Wilding says South Wales Police will have to stop doing certain things | Chief constable Barbara Wilding says South Wales Police will have to stop doing certain things |
| "We will be on the motorway to keep crime...off the roads, and deny criminals the use of the roads, of course we will, but not for accidents or debris - they must find another way of dealing with that unless they pay for it." | "We will be on the motorway to keep crime...off the roads, and deny criminals the use of the roads, of course we will, but not for accidents or debris - they must find another way of dealing with that unless they pay for it." |
| Ms Wilding also said that without funding increases, she would be forced to charge promoters of major events in Cardiff, such as rugby matches and pop concerts, the full policing costs. | Ms Wilding also said that without funding increases, she would be forced to charge promoters of major events in Cardiff, such as rugby matches and pop concerts, the full policing costs. |
| She also suggested the number of events during royal visits to south Wales may have to be scaled back due to pressures on her budget. | She also suggested the number of events during royal visits to south Wales may have to be scaled back due to pressures on her budget. |
| "We will start charging for the major events, we will have to, because at the moment, our policing levels are going down to 1974 figures," she said. | "We will start charging for the major events, we will have to, because at the moment, our policing levels are going down to 1974 figures," she said. |
| Ms Wilding gave an example of the recent Cardiff versus Swansea football match, which she said cost £250,000 to police, for which South Wales Police received only £25,000 from the event promoters. | Ms Wilding gave an example of the recent Cardiff versus Swansea football match, which she said cost £250,000 to police, for which South Wales Police received only £25,000 from the event promoters. |
| The chief constable also called for South Wales Police to be paid an extra £1m by the assembly government in recognition of the costs of policing the capital city of Wales, as happens in Scotland. | The chief constable also called for South Wales Police to be paid an extra £1m by the assembly government in recognition of the costs of policing the capital city of Wales, as happens in Scotland. |
| Police on duty at the Cardiff v Arsenal FA Cup tie in January | Police on duty at the Cardiff v Arsenal FA Cup tie in January |
| "The implications are quite simple really, that if football clubs or people putting on events with pop stars are not able to pay for the level of policing that we say is needed for that event, on risk - it's all done on risk - then they may have to consider whether they can run the event in the first place," she said. | "The implications are quite simple really, that if football clubs or people putting on events with pop stars are not able to pay for the level of policing that we say is needed for that event, on risk - it's all done on risk - then they may have to consider whether they can run the event in the first place," she said. |
| "And that, of course, has a huge impact on the economy of hotels, shops, transport, the whole thing." | "And that, of course, has a huge impact on the economy of hotels, shops, transport, the whole thing." |
| At a meeting of the South Wales Police Authority, Ms Wilding also urged members to agree a 9.8% increase in the amount council tax payers are charged for policing so patrols of the M4 could continue. | At a meeting of the South Wales Police Authority, Ms Wilding also urged members to agree a 9.8% increase in the amount council tax payers are charged for policing so patrols of the M4 could continue. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said police funding was a matter for the Home Office, with South Wales and Gwent police forces legally responsible for policing the M4 in south Wales. | |
| A spokesman said a transfer of certain powers to highways agencies to improve efficiency of road policing and to free up officers for law enforcement had already been proposed. | |
| The trial of a rapid response system for the M4 and A55 was also subject to discussion, while two traffic management centres for the same roads had been funded. | |
| On the policing of major events, the spokesman said South Wales Police Authority was funded by a formula based on need, which took into account special events. | |
| "All local authorities including police authorities should manage their resources as effectively and efficiently as possible," said the spokesman. | |
| "The minister will monitor carefully budget setting in the coming weeks and does not expect authorities to seek unreasonable council tax increases from the already hard pressed householder. | |
| "The minister will consider using the capping powers available to him in the event of excessive budget increases". | |
| South Wales Central AM Chris Franks criticised Ms Wilding's threat to stop policing the M4 as "frankly astonishing". | |
| The Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Peter Black said the assembly government should meet Ms Wilding "half way" to resolve the issue. | The Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Peter Black said the assembly government should meet Ms Wilding "half way" to resolve the issue. |
| "Both the Home Office and the assembly government are underfunding our local police forces," he said. | "Both the Home Office and the assembly government are underfunding our local police forces," he said. |
| 'Free up the police' | 'Free up the police' |
| "The consequence of that will be less police on our streets, more dangerous roads and the possible cancellation of money-spinning major events. That is unacceptable." | "The consequence of that will be less police on our streets, more dangerous roads and the possible cancellation of money-spinning major events. That is unacceptable." |
| The Plaid Cymru AM added: "It might be a good headline grabbing comment but is it responsible for the most senior police officer in south Wales to do that? | |
| "The reluctance of councillors on the police authority to accept demands for a 9.8% council tax rise might disappoint the chief constable. However, to lash out in such an intemperate manner is very unhelpful." | |
| Meanwhile, Ms Wilding's calls for dedicated traffic officers were echoed by the assembly's enterprise and learning committee. | Meanwhile, Ms Wilding's calls for dedicated traffic officers were echoed by the assembly's enterprise and learning committee. |
| Committee chairman Gareth Jones AM said Wales' two major corridors in its road network - the A55, and the M4 in the south - were vulnerable to congestion. | Committee chairman Gareth Jones AM said Wales' two major corridors in its road network - the A55, and the M4 in the south - were vulnerable to congestion. |
| Any such jams went onto have "worrying social and economic impacts", he said. | Any such jams went onto have "worrying social and economic impacts", he said. |