Police and Justice Bill

It would appear that there is much in this Bill that parties on both sides of the House clearly welcome. I welcome the provision for a national policing improvement agency. It will pull together a number of bodies and reduce the opportunities for conflicting advice and guidance. Bringing the basic crime units together in line with local authorities will, I am sure, assist those who have not had the benefit of coterminous boundaries such as we have had in Bridgend. F division in Bridgend covers the county borough of Bridgend and the parliamentary constituencies of myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies). That makes sense. It helps joint working, it brings joined-up government, and it should help with communications and partnership working. It also helps with our community safety partnership, which in Bridgend has been incredibly effective and supportive of all the agencies involved, and has pulled together joint working, joint networking and co-ordination of all the services that have helped to reduce crime in my constituency. Indeed, crime across Wales has fallen 5 per cent. over the last year, and the police force in my constituency has been one of the best performing in the United Kingdom.