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Limit on police funding blocked Limit on police funding blocked
(about 1 hour later)
An attempt to cap North Wales Police's share of the council tax has been blocked by opposition parties.An attempt to cap North Wales Police's share of the council tax has been blocked by opposition parties.
The Welsh Assembly Government had wanted to limit the tax rise to 5% instead of the 6.75% recommended by the police authority.The Welsh Assembly Government had wanted to limit the tax rise to 5% instead of the 6.75% recommended by the police authority.
Finance minister Sue Essex said the defeat meant higher council tax bills for the people of north Wales.Finance minister Sue Essex said the defeat meant higher council tax bills for the people of north Wales.
But the police authority chair described it as "a victory" for the people of the region and common sense.But the police authority chair described it as "a victory" for the people of the region and common sense.
The force has previously said it is facing a cash crisis and chief constable Richard Brunstom had warned that if the rise was restricted to 5%, £3m cuts could follow.The force has previously said it is facing a cash crisis and chief constable Richard Brunstom had warned that if the rise was restricted to 5%, £3m cuts could follow.
The police authority agreed a compromise rise of 6.75% last month after a vote backing a higher 8.5% was narrowly rejected.The police authority agreed a compromise rise of 6.75% last month after a vote backing a higher 8.5% was narrowly rejected.
Following the defeat in the assembly, Ms Essex said: "I deeply regret the actions of opposition members in voting against my proposal that council tax increases imposed by North Wales Police Authority should be capped at a reasonable level.Following the defeat in the assembly, Ms Essex said: "I deeply regret the actions of opposition members in voting against my proposal that council tax increases imposed by North Wales Police Authority should be capped at a reasonable level.
"These anti-Labour politicians have not just defeated the assembly government - they have also defeated the people of north Wales.""These anti-Labour politicians have not just defeated the assembly government - they have also defeated the people of north Wales."
Costs on taxpayersCosts on taxpayers
Capping the rise would have inflicted "unacceptable cuts in neighbourhood policing" according to councillor Ian Roberts, chair of the North Wales Police Authority.Capping the rise would have inflicted "unacceptable cuts in neighbourhood policing" according to councillor Ian Roberts, chair of the North Wales Police Authority.
He said: "I am very pleased that members of the Welsh assembly have recognised the fundamental problem which was lack of funding from the Home Office for largely rural police forces."He said: "I am very pleased that members of the Welsh assembly have recognised the fundamental problem which was lack of funding from the Home Office for largely rural police forces."
The vote is not expected to go down well with Anglesey Council which has already criticised the police authority for setting a police precept of 6.75%.The vote is not expected to go down well with Anglesey Council which has already criticised the police authority for setting a police precept of 6.75%.
Council leader Gareth Winston Roberts had said he did not wish to see the costs falling on the taxpayers of Anglesey.Council leader Gareth Winston Roberts had said he did not wish to see the costs falling on the taxpayers of Anglesey.
Plaid Cymru said Labour's attempt to restrict the increase was based on their failure to secure sufficient funding from the Home Office for Welsh police forces.Plaid Cymru said Labour's attempt to restrict the increase was based on their failure to secure sufficient funding from the Home Office for Welsh police forces.
Their public services spokesman Dai Lloyd AM said: "The police forces of Wales have only received the minimum possible increase in grant from the Labour government at a time when demands on the police are increasing." Their public services spokesman Dr Dai Lloyd AM said: "The police forces of Wales have only received the minimum possible increase in grant from the Labour government at a time when demands on the police are increasing."
Dr Lloyd AM also blamed the lack of funds on last year's failed police force merger plans for England and Wales. These were abandoned in July after widespread opposition from the police and the public.
"The police authorities are having to pick up the costs of that," he said.
Speaking on Radio Wales, he added that a North Wales Police Authority survey had found that 75% of those polled in north Wales would pay more council tax if they saw more "bobbies on the beat".
Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said the people of north Wales had already paid for more community police officers for the area in previous budgets laid down by the North Wales police authority.
"The three other police authorities had managed to come in under 5% and I think that the people of north Wales have already paid for their community police officers," she said.
"They paid with a rise in council tax precept of 17% in 2003, 31.5% in 2004 and that was for additional community police officers promised by the North Wales Police Authority."