Police powers in Wales should be devolved to the Assembly Government, the second report of the Silk Commission has recommended.

Published today, the panel led by Paul Silk reports that control of youth justice should be handed over immediately and policing be brought in line with other public services in Wales.

But the Commission also argued that responsibilities for the National Crime Agency should remain a UK issue, nor should powers of arrest or charging suspects unless criminal law was also made a devolved matter.

Earlier this year the Commission argued for a major restructuring of Welsh local government, reducing the number of councils from 22 at present to as few as ten, and for greater fiscal powers for levying taxes and borrowing money.

In this second instalment of its findings, the Commission, set up by the Coalition, has set out a ten-year timetable to create a ‘well-founded devolution settlement' and for  greater control over transport, utilities and energy generation.

The Commission has also called for Wales to follow the Scottish Government in using a reserved powers model, listing powers that are not devolved to better clarify the role of the assembly and also for an increase to the number of assembly members for the sake of improved scrutiny.

‘At a time when constitutional issues are high on the agenda in the United Kingdom, we have agreed recommendations that will provide a stable and well-founded devolution settlement fit for the future,' said Commission chairman Paul Silk.

‘It will give Wales a lasting settlement that allows political decisions to be made in a democratic and accountable manner,' he added.