Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the conviction handed out at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on 6 January, what steps they are taking against Tesla Financial Services for failing to identify the driver of cars on long-term leases where the vehicle was speeding.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the registered keeper of a vehicle must identify the driver when requested by the police. Where a hire company fails to do so, it is liable to prosecution, and the enforcement action taken by police and the courts demonstrates that the existing legislative framework is functioning as intended.
The Government keeps road traffic enforcement powers under review, but individual prosecutions are operational matters for local police forces in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to take account of the absence of a structure of elected Mayors in Wales in the process of replacing police and crime commissioners.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We recognise that there are no plans to create elected mayors in Wales and that the devolved nature of local government creates unique circumstances. Whilst we wish to harmonise arrangements across England and Wales as far as possible, we will work with stakeholders in Wales, including the Welsh Government, to ensure the governance model replacing police and crime commissioners provides strong and effective police governance for Wales.
We are establishing transition working groups to consider the design and implementation of the future governance arrangements. One of these will specifically focus on design and implementation in Wales.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have regarding the future of Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government announced on 13 November that it is abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales at the end of their current term of office in May 2028. PCC functions will transfer either to Mayors of Strategic Authorities, where possible, or to elected council leaders where it is not. We will create new Police and Crime Boards to bring local council leaders together to oversee the force in their area, supported by an appointed day to day Police and Crime lead.
In Wales, the Welsh government have no plans to create Mayors. We will work with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders on arrangements to transfer PCC functions to local government leaders, recognising the unique nature of devolved arrangements in Wales.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest available figures for (1) the number of refugees from Ukraine in the UK, (2) the number of refugees from Ukraine who have entered the UK in 2025, and (3) the number who have given up their refugee status and returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere during 2025.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on the Ukraine schemes in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.
As at the end of September 2025 229,900 individuals have arrived in the UK under the Ukraine schemes.
Whilst the number of Ukrainians currently within the UK is not published within the data tables, the statistics do refer to how many people are believed to be out of the UK at a snapshot in time (although some may later return to the UK) in the chapter ‘How many people come to the UK via safe and legal (humanitarian) routes?’
“Management information indicates that as of the end of September 2025, around 97,100 people (42%) who had previously arrived on the Ukraine schemes had exited the UK and were believed to be out of the country, although some may subsequently return.”
The Home Office does not publish information on how many on the Ukraine schemes have returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere during 2025.
The Ukraine Schemes do not confer refugee status; therefore, they would not lose their status if returned.
In addition to the Ukraine schemes, some Ukrainians have claimed asylum via the UK asylum process. Since the start of 2022 to the end of September 2025, 68 Ukrainians have been granted refugee status (main applicants and dependants). There is no published data to confirm how many of these remain in the UK, also whether those who were granted refugee status in the preceding years also remain in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost of applying a Danish model of border control and asylum policy.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Plans to Restore Order and Control to the UK asylum and returns system draw inspiration from the Danish model but are not a simple copy. Assessment of the costs and benefits of the model will be made through Impact Assessments where legislation is required to enact the changes presented in the policy statement to the House on 17th November.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many hotels in Wales they have used to accommodate asylum seekers (1) previously, and (2) currently.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.
As of the latest published statistics on 30 June 2025, the number of asylum seekers staying in contingency hotels in Wales was 76, compared to 53 in June 2024 and 110 in June 2023.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of training a police officer with no previous experience of policing.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
High quality training is essential to equip officers with the skills they need to meet the demands of modern policing and to build public trust and confidence.
The cost of training a new police officer with no prior experience can vary, depending on the entry route, local delivery models, and support arrangements. Estimates are typically held at the local level by individual police forces. Recruitment and training are managed locally by Chief Constables, accountable to their Police and Crime Commissioners, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing.
The College of Policing plays a central role in maintaining and reviewing the national policing curriculum, which underpins the training delivered to new recruits across all entry routes. While training costs are managed locally, the College seeks to support forces in delivering high-quality, practical training in a more efficient and cost-effective way.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest figures for (1) the established full headcount, and (2) the actual headcount, of each police authority in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales on a biannual basis in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin.
Table 1 below shows the number of police officers, police staff (including designated officers), and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in headcount terms for each PFA in England and Wales, as at 30 September 2024. As at 30 September 2024 there were 245,891 paid workers employed in England and Wales. This includes 148,886 police officers, 89,270 police staff (including designated officers), and 7,735 PCSOs.
Table 1: Paid police workforce (headcount), England and Wales, as at 30 September 2024, by Police Force Area
Police Force | Police officers | Police staff (including designated officers) | PCSOs | Total paid workforce |
Avon and Somerset | 3,338 | 3,024 | 267 | 6,629 |
Bedfordshire | 1,469 | 1,216 | 42 | 2,727 |
Cambridgeshire | 1,751 | 964 | 22 | 2,737 |
Cheshire | 2,401 | 1,654 | 101 | 4,156 |
Cleveland | 1,524 | 948 | 85 | 2,557 |
Cumbria | 1,398 | 732 | 44 | 2,174 |
Derbyshire | 2,136 | 1,681 | 181 | 3,998 |
Devon and Cornwall | 3,682 | 2,217 | 146 | 6,045 |
Dorset | 1,453 | 1,351 | 90 | 2,894 |
Durham | 1,392 | 1,015 | 122 | 2,529 |
Dyfed-Powys | 1,318 | 847 | 144 | 2,309 |
Essex | 3,822 | 2,333 | 95 | 6,250 |
Gloucestershire | 1,349 | 999 | 120 | 2,468 |
Greater Manchester | 8,159 | 4,551 | 335 | 13,045 |
Gwent | 1,554 | 867 | 139 | 2,560 |
Hampshire and Isle of Wight | 3,404 | 2,322 | 168 | 5,894 |
Hertfordshire | 2,405 | 1,595 | 158 | 4,158 |
Humberside | 2,300 | 1,448 | 136 | 3,884 |
Kent | 4,224 | 2,432 | 84 | 6,740 |
Lancashire | 3,604 | 2,321 | 223 | 6,148 |
Leicestershire | 2,298 | 1,693 | 159 | 4,150 |
Lincolnshire | 1,218 | 1,080 | 41 | 2,339 |
London, City of | 999 | 569 | 4 | 1,572 |
Merseyside | 4,193 | 2,715 | 185 | 7,093 |
Metropolitan Police | 34,296 | 11,946 | 1,511 | 47,753 |
Norfolk | 1,947 | 1,441 | 0 | 3,388 |
North Wales | 1,737 | 1,270 | 190 | 3,197 |
North Yorkshire | 1,674 | 1,288 | 141 | 3,103 |
Northamptonshire | 1,505 | 1,127 | 80 | 2,712 |
Northumbria | 3,857 | 2,201 | 85 | 6,143 |
Nottinghamshire | 2,437 | 1,601 | 155 | 4,193 |
South Wales | 3,564 | 2,455 | 352 | 6,371 |
South Yorkshire | 3,087 | 2,457 | 111 | 5,655 |
Staffordshire | 2,017 | 1,610 | 182 | 3,809 |
Suffolk | 1,427 | 1,056 | 29 | 2,512 |
Surrey | 2,328 | 1,825 | 76 | 4,229 |
Sussex | 3,263 | 2,389 | 253 | 5,905 |
Thames Valley | 5,088 | 3,823 | 261 | 9,172 |
Warwickshire | 1,158 | 849 | 69 | 2,076 |
West Mercia | 2,535 | 1,767 | 196 | 4,498 |
West Midlands | 8,097 | 4,080 | 312 | 12,489 |
West Yorkshire | 6,220 | 4,299 | 555 | 11,074 |
Wiltshire | 1,258 | 1,212 | 86 | 2,556 |
England and Wales | 148,886 | 89,270 | 7,735 | 245,891 |
Table 2 below shows the number of special constables and Police Support Volunteers (PSVs) in headcount terms by PFA as at 30 September 2024. As at 30 September 2024 there were 5,818 special constables and 6,984 PSVs.
Table 2: Unpaid police workforce, England and Wales, as at 31 March 2024, by Police Force Area
Police Force | Special constables | PSVs | Total unpaid police workforce |
Avon and Somerset | 192 | 124 | 316 |
Bedfordshire | 53 | 52 | 105 |
Cambridgeshire | 66 | 84 | 150 |
Cheshire | 156 | 46 | 202 |
Cleveland | 53 | 24 | 77 |
Cumbria | 39 | 54 | 93 |
Derbyshire | 78 | 84 | 162 |
Devon and Cornwall | 191 | 835 | 1,026 |
Dorset | 91 | 137 | 228 |
Durham | 30 | 63 | 93 |
Dyfed-Powys | 43 | 17 | 60 |
Essex | 251 | 212 | 463 |
Gloucestershire | 143 | 295 | 438 |
Greater Manchester | 190 | 97 | 287 |
Gwent | 54 | 46 | 100 |
Hampshire and Isle of Wight | 169 | 111 | 280 |
Hertfordshire | 139 | 232 | 371 |
Humberside | 103 | 74 | 177 |
Kent | 174 | 330 | 504 |
Lancashire | 129 | 298 | 427 |
Leicestershire | 90 | 235 | 325 |
Lincolnshire | 94 | 117 | 211 |
London, City of | 53 | 11 | 64 |
Merseyside | 135 | 296 | 431 |
Metropolitan Police | 1,202 | 368 | 1,570 |
Norfolk | 119 | 98 | 217 |
North Wales | 70 | 83 | 153 |
North Yorkshire | 87 | 165 | 252 |
Northamptonshire | 106 | 108 | 214 |
Northumbria | 82 | 60 | 142 |
Nottinghamshire | 81 | 54 | 135 |
South Wales | 83 | 423 | 506 |
South Yorkshire | 60 | 72 | 132 |
Staffordshire | 136 | 55 | 191 |
Suffolk | 109 | 108 | 217 |
Surrey | 129 | 192 | 321 |
Sussex | 76 | 225 | 301 |
Thames Valley | 169 | 511 | 680 |
Warwickshire | 58 | 41 | 99 |
West Mercia | 73 | 105 | 178 |
West Midlands | 197 | 259 | 456 |
West Yorkshire | 146 | 116 | 262 |
Wiltshire | 119 | 67 | 186 |
England and Wales | 5,818 | 6,984 | 12,802 |
Data on the police workforce as at 31 March 2025 is due to be published on 23 July 2025.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the salary ranges for each recognised rank within the police service in (1) 2019–20, and (2) 2025–26.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The police officer pay scales for the police pay year 2019/20 were not separately published under the previous Government. However, the pay scales for that year recommended by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), which were accepted and implemented at that time, can be found at appendix D on page 73 of its fifth report and are set out in the tables below.
For the police pay year 2025-26, the Government has received the Police Remuneration Review Body and Senior Salaries Review Body’s recommendations. We are considering these recommendations very carefully and will announce a decision in due course.
Rank | Pay Point | Recommended for effect from 1 September 2019 |
Constable (appointed on or after 1 April 2013 | 0 | £20,880 |
1 | £24,177 | |
2 | £25,269 | |
3 | £26,370 | |
4 | £27,471 | |
5 | £29,670 | |
6 | £34,098 | |
7 | £40,128 | |
Constable (appointed before 1 April 2013) | On commencing service | £25,560 |
On completion of initial training | £28,527 | |
2 | £30,180 | |
3 | £32,025 | |
4 | £33,036 | |
5 | £34,098 | |
6 | £37,095 | |
7 | £40,128 | |
Sergeant | 1 | £41,499 |
2 | £42,984 | |
3 | £43,806 | |
4 | £45,099 | |
Inspector | 0 | £51,414 |
1 | £52,863 | |
2 | £54,312 | |
3 | £55,767 | |
Inspector (London) | 0 | £53,664 |
1 | £55,119 | |
2 | £56,580 | |
3 | £58,038 | |
Chief Inspector | 1 | £56,910 |
2 | £58,050 | |
3 | £59,250 | |
In post 31 August 1994 | £60,219 | |
Chief Inspector (London) | 1 | £59,175 |
2 | £60,315 | |
3 | £61,509 | |
In post 31 August 1994 | £62,469 | |
Superintendent (promoted to rank on or after 1 April 2014) | 1 | £68,460 |
2 | £72,033 | |
3 | £75,795 | |
4 | £80,859 | |
Superintendent (promoted to rank before 1 April 2014) | 1 | £68,460 |
2 | £71,283 | |
3 | £74,103 | |
4 | £76,932 | |
5 | £79,758 | |
Chief Superintendent | 1 | £84,849 |
2 | £87,717 | |
3 | £89,511 |
Force Weighting | Forces | Chief Constables – recommended for effect from 1 September 2019 | Deputy Chief Constables – recommended for effect from 1 September 2019 |
10.0 | West Midlands | £199,386 | £152,871 |
Greater Manchester | |||
8.0 | West Yorkshire | £186,099 | £148,878 |
6.5 | Thames Valley | £176,130 | £145,308 |
6.0 | Merseyside | £172,800 | £142,566 |
Northumbria | |||
5.5 | Hampshire | £169,476 | £139,824 |
5.0 | Kent | £166,161 | £137,076 |
Lancashire | |||
Devon & Cornwall | |||
4.5 | South Yorkshire | £162,840 | £134,343 |
Essex | |||
Avon & Somerset | |||
Sussex | |||
South Wales | |||
3.5 | Nottinghamshire | £156,192 | £128,859 |
3.0 | Hertfordshire | £152,871 | £126,111 |
West Mercia | |||
Cheshire | |||
Humberside | |||
Staffordshire | |||
Leicestershire | |||
Derbyshire | |||
2.5 | Surrey | £149,544 | £123,375 |
Norfolk | |||
2.0 | Cleveland | £146,256 | £120,633 |
Durham | |||
Cambridgeshire | |||
North Wales | |||
North Yorkshire | |||
Gwent | |||
Northamptonshire | |||
Suffolk | |||
Dorset | |||
Wiltshire | |||
Bedfordshire | |||
1.5 | Gloucestershire | £142,896 | £119,637 |
Lincolnshire | |||
Cumbria | |||
Warwickshire | |||
Dyfed-Powys | |||
Metropolitan Police Service Salaries | Recommended for effect from 1 September 2019 | ||
Commissioner | £285,792 | ||
Deputy Commissioner | £235,944 | ||
Assistant Commissioner | £199,386 | ||
Deputy Assistant Commissioner | £152,871 | ||
City of London Salaries | Recommended for effect from 1 September 2019 | ||
Commissioner | £176,802 | ||
Assistant Commissioner | £145,830 | ||
Assistant Chief Constable and Commander Pay Scale | Recommended for effect from 1 September 2019 | ||
1 | £103,023 | ||
2 | £109,662 | ||
3 | £116,313 | ||
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total funding allocated to the police forces in Wales for the financial year 2025–26; and what are the anticipated allocations for (1) 2026–27, and (2) 2027–28.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Total funding to police forces in England and Wales will be up to £17.6 billion, an increase of up to £1.2 billion compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement – a significant increase, and more than the increase last year.
Dfyed-Powys Police will receive up to £163.6 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £12.1 million when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.
Gwent Police will receive up to £197 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £14.3 million when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.
Dfyed-Powys Police will receive up to £163.6 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £12.1 million when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.
North Wales Police will receive up to £226.2 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £16 million when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.
South Wales Police will receive up to £441.7 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £32.6 million when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.
Details on force funding allocations for 2026-27 will be set out at the police settlement later this year.