Wales "left exposed" by Police Patrol Absence on M4

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Sep 2009

The First Minister of Wales was put on the spot in the National Assembly for Wales for putting lives at risk because of the absence of police patrols on the M4 in Gwent.

Questioning Rhodri Morgan Mr. German said: "the Labour-Plaid government announced in May that they were launching that day new 'jam busting' patrol service. Yet four months later the police have stopped patrolling the M4, and the new patrol service hasn't started. Why was a new scheme launched with a fanfare when you had no intention of the service staying until next year?"

"Recruitment for the new civilian patrol service, to deal with accidents, congestion and broken down vehicles, has not even started. I am concerned that now there are no police patrols on the M4, some people will increase their speed. Already website postings are proclaiming 'stick your foot down on the M4' and 'Wales is like Germany: no need to worry about being caught-go as fast as you like'."

Mr. German's comments are echoed by transport and automobile groups. The South Wales Police Federation says: "Undoubtedly we will see an increase in the number of collisions. If the speed increases because enforcement is no longer there then the likelihood of death on our motorways increases."

Mr. German is demanding that the Welsh Assembly Government put in place interim measures to ensure the police to patrol the M4. He said "the Assembly Government launched the new patrol scheme in a blaze of glory on May 26. It is their responsibility to ensure patrols are in place."