Policing and justice

Statements, debates and legislation in Plenary on this brief, newest first. Oral question sessions are counted in the contributions below.

1. 7 May 2024Legislation

   & 9. Legislative Consent Motion on the Victims and Prisoners Bill—motion 1, and Legislative Consent Motion on the Victims and Prisoners Bill—motion 2

   Opened by Y Dirprwy Lywydd / The Deputy Presiding Officer15 contributions

2. 30 April 2024Legislation

   & 5. Legislative Consent Motion on the Victims and Prisoners Bill—motion 1, and Legislative Consent Motion on the Victims and Prisoners Bill—motion 2

   Opened by Y Llywydd / The Llywydd1 contribution

Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.

• 40% of Welsh adults said crime and policing would be very important to their vote.

Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.

No written questions on this brief in the Sixth Senedd yet.

No petitions on this brief opened in the Sixth Senedd.

Committee sessions where this brief was on the agenda, newest first.

1. 14 October 2024Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   76 contributions

Articles by Senedd Research, the Senedd's impartial research service, on this brief, published in the Sixth Senedd.

1. Reforming the Welsh Tribunals: progress on pause

   31 March 2026

   As the Sixth Senedd comes to an end, reform of the Welsh Tribunals remains unfinished business. Despite commitments made by the Welsh Government, legislation was not introduced to deliver the reforms.

2. Protected, not punished? Youth Justice in Wales

   29 October 2025

   Welsh Government policy has taken a distinct approach to youth justice - one that prioritises prevention, rehabilitation, and the rights of children over punitive measures.

3. The Thomas Commission: Three Years on

   24 October 2022

   In October 2019, the Commission on Justice in Wales published its review of the justice system in Wales and concluded that “the people of Wales are being let down by the justice system in its current state”.

More from Senedd Research on this subject

Titles and summaries are Senedd Research's own, © Senedd Commission. How we match articles to briefs.

422 contributions in the Sixth Senedd, newest first.

1. Alun DaviesLabour

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   I'm grateful to you and I'm grateful to you for that. It seems that you've got a very good relationship with the Welsh Government. From what you've said, you've had a series of meetings at a senior level, there's a rhythm to those meetings, it would appear, and so you've got an opportunity to have a…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Welsh Tribunals”Official Record

2. Syr Gary Hickinbottom

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   At a number of levels. I met First Minister Drakeford twice, and I met the Counsel General Mick Antoniw—the former Counsel General—a number of times, and I met the new Counsel General at the Legal Wales conference this weekend. But, over and above that, I have regular meetings with both the deputy…

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Welsh Tribunals”Official Record

3. Mike HedgesLabour

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   Thank you. I think you've answered nearly all of my next question, but if there's anything that you would like to add to what you've already said: how have you engaged with the Welsh Government during your first year in post?

   Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Welsh Tribunals”Official Record

4. Syr Gary Hickinbottom

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   …and the judiciary. Over 20 years ago now, when I was involved in the reform of the reserved tribunals, I was engaged with the National Assembly for Wales, as it was then—the new National Assembly, as it was then—and then, there was a great focus on big political direction in these newly devolved big…

   Tagged for: “tribunals”, “Courts”Official Record

5. Mike HedgesLabour

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   What are your main reflections from your first year in the post as president of Welsh Tribunals?

   Tagged for: “Welsh Tribunals”Official Record

6. Mike HedgesLabour

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Evidence Session with the President of the Welsh Tribunals

   Can I welcome Sir Gary Hickinbottom, president of Welsh Tribunals, and Rhian Davies-Rees, head of the Welsh Tribunals unit at the Welsh Government? We're very pleased that you were able to come along and talk to us. Can I also thank the president for sending a copy of his first annual report to the…

   Tagged for: “Welsh Tribunals”Official Record

7. Mike HedgesLabour

   14 October 2024, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

   Papers to note

   …may wish to return to this in private session. Can we have a short break and meet with the president of Welsh Tribunals, when he's available?

   Tagged for: “Welsh Tribunals”Official Record

8. Ruth Coombs

   7 October 2024, Equality and Social Justice Committee

   Disability and employment: evidence session 4

   …the protected characteristic group. And that's a real disadvantage, together, obviously, with lack of legal aid provisions. So, when people want to realise their rights, if they do believe they've been discriminated against, where do they go? How do they access that? We're not in a position to be…

   Tagged for: “legal aid”Official Record

9. Jane HuttLabour

   3 October 2024, Local Government and Housing Committee

   The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers: Follow up—Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip

   …was trying to respond to that question, Chair, that you've put about the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, because although we resisted it, it could be enforced in Wales. So, we have been working with policing partners to ensure that we can approach this in a more measured way in terms of…

   Tagged for: “Courts”Official Record

10. Louisa Devonish

    3 October 2024, Local Government and Housing Committee

    The provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers: Follow up—Evidence session 1

    …be one or the other, then there's a desperate need, because with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which further criminalises people just trying to live their way of life, there is a desperate need. I do know that nine of the local authorities in the south-east of Wales were looking…

    Tagged for: “Courts”Official Record

11. Altaf HussainConservative

    2 October 2024, Plenary

    Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

    …into the town. However, what shocked me more was yesterday's Sky News special report, which spoke to prisoners on early release who had been forced to rough-sleep. One man interviewed said that he was living in a graveyard in Bridgend and was considering reoffending before the winter so that he…

    Tagged for: “prisoners”, “prison”Official Record

12. Jayne BryantLabour

    2 October 2024, Plenary

    Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

    …I think one of the crucial elements is that timely sharing of the high-quality information between the prison service and local authorities that is crucial in ensuring that the housing options teams, who do such great work, can plan effectively to ensure people leaving the secure estate are not at…

    Tagged for: “prison”, “Probation”Official Record

13. John GriffithsLabour

    2 October 2024, Plenary

    Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

    Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. One significant aspect of homelessness concerns prisoners released from custody. Thirteen per cent of prisoners in England and Wales are released without a home to go to, and the Chief Inspector of Probation says homelessness is the biggest driving factor in…

    Tagged for: “prisoners”, “Probation”, “prison”, “prisons”Official Record

14. Julie JamesLabour

    1 October 2024, Plenary

    Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

    …by the evaluation and other research, we can decide on whether rolling out the family drug and alcohol courts model is the most suitable, cost-effective model to provide sustainable support for families, where there are concerns around substance misuse. We do know that the family drug and alcohol…

    Tagged for: “courts”Official Record

15. Julie JamesLabour

    1 October 2024, Plenary

    Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

    …that the Commission on Justice in Wales included a recommendation that the family drug and alcohol courts should be established in Wales as a pilot, and I am delighted that we honoured that commitment and carried out the pilot. I also want to pay tribute to the families who took the brave step of…

    Tagged for: “courts”Official Record

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