Reid's Offer Of Dialogue On Police Future Must Be Accepted - Öpik

11.35.26am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Jul 2006

"The pressure against police force mergers has been increasing all the time."

Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats today announced that he was "satisfied" that Home Secretary John Reid was finally taking a responsible line on offering a genuine consultation regarding the future of Wales' four police forces.

Yesterday evening, Lembit met with John Reid, the Home Secretary, to discuss the Government's merger plans. Lembit was part of a cross-party delegation with Cheryl Gillan MP, Hywel Williams MP and Martin Jones MP. In a frank meeting, Mr Reid heard the concerns of the group regarding the merger.

Lembit Öpik said:

"The pressure against force mergers has been increasing all the time. In fact, this is becoming something of a poisoned chalice for the Home Office, who can't fail to see the strength of opinion in opposition to the original proposals.

"The Home Secretary clear realises this. He's making time to hear our views - and not a moment too soon. He also said he has no intention of enforcing unpopular measures or a specific timetable. In my reading, it means he's put the mergers on ice.

"However, we mustn't miss the subtext here. Dr Reid stressed his goal to get "maximum capability" from the Welsh police - and I think this is a starting point we can all agree on. Our challenge is thus not to sling mud at the Home Secretary, it's to table ideas with the Home Office about how that "maximum capability" can be achieved.

"Although others might be more suspicious of Dr Reid's sincerity, I'm not. He found the Home office in a merger bind not of his doing, and he's trying to get them out of it. I think it's smart for us to help with that aim, as it's in everyone's interests, including the police and the public, to find a consensus around structures which don't include mass merger."