// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
PM says he is 'open' to devolving policing in Wales
Andy Burnham's comments contrast with previous messaging from the UK government over policing in Wales
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is open to the idea of giving the Welsh government control of policing in Wales.
His comments were a marked change in tone from what the UK government has previously said, with the idea rejected in the past.
Burnham said that while he could not make promises, he would be "open to the conversation", and that with "wider policing reform" going on it was a "good time to look at those issues".
But he played down any prospect of a review of the way Welsh public services are funded through the Barnett Formula.
Policing in Wales is overseen by Westminster, unlike in Scotland and Northern Ireland where the countries' own devolved governments are responsible.
Plaid Cymru's Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams, who met Burnham on Thursday, welcomed his comments on policing.
One Labour MP told BBC Wales that most of their colleagues in Westminster would be opposed to the devolution of policing, while Reform criticised the proposal.
Burnham also said that Wales and Scotland should both consider ways to deepen devolution by following England's model of giving more powers to cities and regions.
He said he wanted to offer the Welsh government and Wales' "various communities and regions" the "ability to have deeper devolution in the way that we're pioneering in England".