The leader of Mebyon Kernow has called for the creation of a Cornish Police Force, following the UK Government announcement that they plan to cut the number of police forces serving Cornwall, England and Wales.

Speaking at a Scrutiny Committee meeting in Truro, Cllr Dick Cole set out his opposition to Cornwall being lumped into a larger SW Constabulary and stated that, given the national minority status of the Cornish, it was important to push for a Cornish Police Force.

The Home Office has stated that there will be a review into the number of future constabularies.

At the meeting, the former Independent leader of Cornwall Council,  Cllr Julian German said the authority, under a previous administration, had written to the Police Minister asking for the de-merger of Devon and Cornwall Police Force and had “received a positive reply regarding bringing forward a business case.”

He added: “We have also previously put forward for a combined fire, police and ambulance service on a Cornwall footprint to drive those efficiencies across the public sector by bringing emergency services together.”