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Alun Edward Michael (born 22 August 1943) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative[2][3] retired politician. He served as Secretary of State for Wales from 1998 to 1999 and then as the first First Secretary of Wales (later known as First Minister) and Leader of Welsh Labour from 1999 to 2000. He went on to serve as South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 to 2024.[4]

Key Information

Born on the island of Anglesey, Michael attended Colwyn Bay Grammar School and graduated from the University of Keele in 1966 with a degree in Philosophy and English. He worked as a reporter for the South Wales Echo until 1971 and then as a youth and community worker until 1987. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1972 and served on the Cardiff City Council from 1973 to 1989. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1987, succeeding former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan for the constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth.

In opposition, he was a Shadow Home Affairs Minister and then when Labour came to power in 1997 he served as a Minister of State for Home Affairs until 1998. In October of that year, Ron Davies resigned as Secretary of State for Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour following the "Moment of Madness" scandal and Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Michael to succeed him in the former role. In May 1999, following the first elections to the National Assembly for Wales, Michael defeated Rhodri Morgan to become the new Welsh Labour leader and thus the inaugural First Secretary of Wales. The position was later renamed First Minister of Wales under the tenure of his successor.

Michael resigned as Leader of Welsh Labour and First Secretary nine months later to avoid a vote of no confidence. He resigned from the Welsh Assembly shortly after and served in various junior ministerial positions in the Labour government at Westminster. He resigned from the House of Commons in October 2012 to stand for the newly created position of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, to which he was elected in November 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2021.[5][6] In June 2023 it was announced he would not contest the 2024 election; he was succeeded by his deputy Emma Wools on 8 May 2024, after her electoral victory the previous week.[7]

Background and family life

[edit]

Michael was born at Bryngwran, Anglesey, the son of Leslie and Betty Michael. He attended Colwyn Bay Grammar School and studied at Keele University for four years from 1962 to 1966 obtaining a BA degree in Philosophy and English.

Professional career

[edit]

He was a reporter for the South Wales Echo, a Cardiff-based evening newspaper, where he was a contemporary of Michael Buerk (later to become a distinguished BBC correspondent) and of Sue Lawley (later to become presenter of the BBC magazine programme Nationwide).[8] In his autobiography Michael Buerk wrote "Alun Michael with his ginger toothbrush-moustache and battered corduroy jacket, was a rather Pooterish character for the Sixties. He did not stay in journalism, which was no surprise, but went into politics, which certainly was".[9] Michael in fact left journalism in 1971 and spent 16 years until 1987 as a "youth and community worker" before entering Parliament.[10] In 1972 he was appointed a justice of the peace, chairing the Cardiff Juvenile Bench.

Political career

[edit]

Michael was a member of Cardiff City Council for the Rumney ward, subsequently the Trowbridge ward from 1973[11] until 1989.

He became an MP at the 1987 general election, inheriting a safe Labour seat from former prime minister James Callaghan. Michael retained this seat in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010 although with declining majorities at each election from 1997 onwards.

Home Office

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Michael was a Shadow Home Affairs Minister while in opposition, prior to becoming a Minister of State in the Home Office (he likes to describe himself as having been "Deputy Home Secretary")[12] following Labour's landslide victory in the 1997 general election. His rhetoric when coming to office differed from the eventual delivery. As Home Office minister, he pledged there would be "no hiding place for paedophiles" as there would "be cases where the public will have to be told directly that a paedophile is in their area. Several frightening cases in recent months have hammered it home that we must act."[13] This policy was not realised, and following the case of eight-year-old Sarah Payne and calls for his original policy to be introduced, Michael agreed with the approach being taken by then Dyfed Powys Chief Constable Terence Grange, who said such a plan would drive paedophiles underground. He said "(Grange) warned of the dangers of having open access leading to paedophiles disappearing and therefore posing an even greater risk".[14] Michael defended his decision not to introduce "Sarah's Law" saying, "These are extremely difficult issues and people are understandably very upset, but there is a danger of serious mistakes being made and this has been shown on a number occasions.".[15]

Michael was however responsible for steering the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 through the House of Commons. Amongst other things, this Act introduced ASBOs or Anti-social Behaviour Orders and statutory crime reduction partnerships. He was also responsible for the Government policy on the voluntary and community sector, and introduced the "compact" process to achieve partnership between Government and that sector. Michael later became a member of the Justice Select Committee from November 2007 to May 2010. While on the committee he took part in enquiries into restorative justice, devolution ten years on, the role of the prison officer, and the work of the Crown Prosecution Service.[16]

Wales career

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In May 1997 Ron Davies was appointed by Tony Blair to the cabinet position of Secretary of State for Wales and then, in September 1998, narrowly defeated Rhodri Morgan in an internal contest for the Labour leadership in Wales. The first election for the National Assembly of Wales was due to be held in May 1999. Should Labour form a government, the Welsh Labour leader would then become what was to be called "First Secretary" – potentially giving Davies a role in both the UK and Welsh legislatures.

However, on 27 October 1998, Davies abruptly resigned as Secretary of State for Wales after adverse publicity about his personal life. Tony Blair overlooked Morgan (then MP for Cardiff West) and appointed Michael as the new Secretary of State for Wales.

Two days later, on 29 October 1998, Davies also resigned the Labour Leadership in Wales, thus relinquishing his ambition to become First Secretary and initiating another leadership contest. Blair again overlooked Morgan and opted to back Michael for the position. According to Neath MP Peter Hain "Rhodri was the party's favourite and feelings ran very high" but nevertheless, in a volte-face, Hain agreed to run the campaign for Michael who he described as "the establishment candidate". Although Morgan had the overwhelming support of individual Labour Party members, Michael, backed by Blair and by the trade unions, won the election.[17][18] This episode led to Michael being described as a "famously tetchy Millbank-backed candidate".[19] The affair was described by Peter Kellner as "another fix" in order "to ensure Alun Michael became Labour's leader in Wales" which Kellner said "offended so many voters that it lost some of its safest seats, including Rhondda, to Plaid Cymru".[20] Tony Blair's favourable treatment of Michael was later described by Kellner as a "determination to foist Alun Michael on the people of Wales", which "produced a spectacular collapse of support".[21] Michael stressed his Welsh credentials, as someone who had grown up in North Wales, lived for 30 years in South Wales and was a speaker of Welsh. He had approached Blair at a very early stage to suggest he stood for the Welsh Assembly elections.[22]

The first Assembly election resulted in the Welsh Labour Party winning less than half of the available seats. In the first plenary on 12 May 1999 Michael was elected First Secretary.

Alun Michael
Premiership of Alun Michael
12 May 1999 – 9 February 2000
Alun Michael
CabinetMichael government
PartyWelsh Labour Party
Election1999
Appointed byElizabeth II
SeatTŷ Hywel

Rather than form a coalition, Michael took the unconventional route of forming a minority government, believing that this offered the potential for a more collaborative and democratic approach to the work of the Assembly.[23]

However, this was to lead to the very outcome Tony Blair had wanted to prevent, the election of Rhodri Morgan as leader of the Welsh Assembly. On 9 February 2000, after less than nine months in office,[24] Michael resigned in an attempt to avoid a vote of "no confidence" over the availability of Objective 1 funding from the European Union. Blair was in the House of Commons taking Prime Minister's Questions when Michael resigned; his Parliamentary Private Secretary had not been notified of this yet, and moments later Conservative leader William Hague asked: “Will the Prime Minister comment on the fact that within moments of his expressing full confidence in the First Secretary in Wales five or 10 minutes ago, news came through to the House that the First Secretary had resigned, before the vote of confidence had taken place?“[25] This led to an exchange that proved humiliating for Blair as he had not been given any notice of Michael's impending resignation. In his resignation Michael also expressed a desire to avoid a debacle resulting from his inevitable re-appointment (and potential repeated removal) arising from an inconsistency in the Assembly's brand-new rules.[citation needed]

Michael sat on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee from November 2007 to May 2010 and resigned as an MP on 22 October 2012.

Environment career

[edit]

In 2001, he was appointed Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality, a post within DEFRA. He was the minister most closely connected with a ban on hunting with dogs, for which he attracted much criticism from hunt supporters. Michael was criticised for citing the research of Sir Patrick Bateson as "incontrovertible proof" of the need for a total ban. Sir Patrick said, "Only somebody who was scientifically illiterate could argue that evidence from a new area of research was 'incontrovertible'" but Michael claimed that Bateson had misunderstood the way his work had been cited.[26][27]

Hunting Act

[edit]

In 2004, he presided over the enactment of the Hunting Act which banned hare coursing, beagling, fox hunting, mink and stag hunting in the UK from February 2005. At the time this law was being debated, and immediately after it was passed, Michael maintained his visits to rural areas despite threats and protest, but withdrew from the event to launch the "Right to Roam" stating that access to the countryside was too important to be interrupted by pro-hunt protestors whose plans could put the public at risk. Michael maintained that hunting was a "peripheral issue" citing social and economic issues in rural areas as "the day job". In 2004, he formally approved the order designating the New Forest as a National Park.

Trade and Business

[edit]

In 2005 Michael was moved to a ministerial post in the Department of Trade and Industry as Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, where he served only one year before he was returned to the backbenches in the Cabinet reshuffle of May 2006.

In 2005 the Freedom of Information Act came into force allowing members of the public to request disclosure of information from public bodies. On 18 May 2007 Alun Michael was among the majority of MPs who voted in favour of exempting MPs from having to disclose information under the act.[28]

Votes for 14-year-olds

[edit]

In his newspaper column in the Penarth Times of 10 May 2010, Michael proposed giving the vote to 14-year-olds as a way of improving turn-out at UK elections. He said: "My first suggestion is to reduce the voting age to 14 – an age which I find young people far better informed and sensibly engaged than was the case in the past – so that everybody takes place in the voting process once before leaving full-time education. They will then know how to vote when they come to engage with political issues later in life".[29] This was going much further than official Labour Party policy, which only promised a free vote in Parliament on reducing the voting age to 16 in their 2010 manifesto.[30]

Controversies

[edit]

Parliamentary expenses claims

[edit]

Michael was one of the MPs who was investigated by The Daily Telegraph in its probe into MPs Expenses Claims in 2009. The Telegraph reported that "Alun Michael claims £4,800 for food in one year, and £2,600 for repairs to his roof at his constituency home in Penarth. Claims for £1,250 cost of repairing a wall and building a 13ft chain link fence."[31] Subsequently, it was reported he was among 390 MPs required by Sir Thomas Legg to repay taxpayers' money which allegedly they had wrongly-claimed. An audit of claims dating back to 2004 revealed that Michael should repay £18,889.56 for mortgage interest on additional loans "not shown to have been for an eligible purpose". He had also been paid £280 more than he was entitled to claim for council tax in the year 2004/05 – claiming expenses for 12 installments when he had only had to pay 10 to the local authority. Michael blamed a "clerical error" for the inflated claim. He said "The council tax payment came at a time when I was under a lot of stress politically".[32] Michael repaid £19,169.56 although later in a 2010 Election Hustings meeting in Splott he said press reports of his having been forced to pay back £20,000 were "untrue" and asserted he had "voluntarily" paid back the money.[33]

Investigated by IPSA

[edit]

In 2011, Michael was investigated by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) over his website. IPSA found he had contravened the rules of the MPs' Expenses Scheme which prohibit MPs from claiming parliamentary expenses for websites which include party logos. Michael had claimed – and been paid – £346.71 which he was not entitled to. He was given 20 days to amend his website but was not required to pay back the money he had been paid.[34]

Police and Crime Commissioner

[edit]
Michael answers questions in a video for the Welsh Government in February 2019

On 18 June 2012, Michael was chosen as the Labour Party candidate for the inaugural election for Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales.[6]

On 13 July 2012 the Western Mail reported that Michael had been "interfering inappropriately" in the selection process for his replacement in Cardiff South and Penarth, to ensure his preferred candidate (Stephen Doughty) was included on the shortlist. Michael responded that he did speak to Ed Miliband, to the party's general secretary Iain McNicol and members of the National Executive Committee, with the purpose to stop a candidate from outside being imposed on the local party.[35]

Having stood down as an MP, Michael was declared the winner of the first-ever election for Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales on 16 November 2012 (the election having taken place the previous day). The PCC elections used the supplementary vote system. In the first round Michael failed to gain an outright majority against two Independents and a Conservative candidate. In the second-round however Michael garnered 72,751 votes beating the runner-up, Independent candidate and former lawyer Michael Barker,[4] by 11,967 votes.[36]

In a Parliamentary written answer on 11 December 2012, Damian Green, Minister of State for Police and Criminal Justice, reported that Michael's salary as PCC for South Wales is £85,000 per annum.[37]

On 9 November 2017 Michael asked Carwyn Jones to define the allegations made against Carl Sargeant, the former Welsh assembly member who apparently took his own life.[38]

On 23 May 2023, and in reference to the deaths of two boys in a collision in Cardiff, Michael said "It would appear that there were rumours, and those rumours became rife, of a police chase, which wasn't the case and I think it illustrates the speed with which rumours can run around with the activity that goes on social media nowadays, and that events can get out of hand."[39] Later the same day this was apparently contradicted by the emergence of household CCTV footage of a police van closely following two people on an electric bike 900 metres from the crash site.[40] In response, Jane Dodds, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said, "This footage raises serious questions over the version of events provided by South Wales Police and PCC Alun Michael. We now need an immediate, impartial investigation. Should Alun Michael be found to have misled the public he should resign."[41]

In 2023, it was announced that Michael would not contest the 2024 South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner elections.[7] His former deputy, Emma Wools was elected following his retirement in 2024.[42]

Since his retirement

[edit]

After his retirement, Michael was appointed as a voluntary ambassador for the charity Action for Children on 6 November 2024.[43][44] In March 2025, he became president of the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services.[45]

Awards

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Bibliography

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See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alun Michael

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Alun Edward Michael (born 22 August 1943) is a retired and Co-operative politician known for his roles in devolved and national government. He served as for South and from 1987 to 2012, from 1998 to 1999, and the first First Secretary of the for from 1999 to 2000. After leaving frontline politics, he was elected for , holding the position from 2012 to 2024 during which the force gained recognition for high performance. Michael's early career included work as a and city in from 1973 to 1989, followed by graduation from in 1966. As a junior minister, he contributed to the , establishing crime reduction partnerships and the Youth Justice Board. His tenure as First Secretary ended abruptly in February 2000 with his resignation amid a tied to disputes over assembly funding and underlying tensions from a leadership contest with , reflecting divisions between Westminster-imposed and local party preferences.

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

Alun Michael was born on 22 August 1943 in , , to Leslie Michael, a shopkeeper, and Betty Michael. He grew up in , , where his family relocated after his birth. During his childhood and adolescence, Michael participated actively in the Scout Movement, attaining the rank of Queen's Scout and becoming the first individual in to earn the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award.

Professional training and initial employment

Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and English from Keele University in 1966, following attendance at Colwyn Bay Grammar School. After graduation, he commenced his initial employment as a reporter for the South Wales Echo, a position he held until 1971. In 1971, Michael transitioned from journalism to full-time youth and community work in Cardiff, beginning in the Llanrumney district before relocating to Llanedeyrn and subsequently dedicating ten years to initiatives in the Ely area. His work emphasized support for young offenders and unemployed youth, particularly in neighborhoods including Butetown and Grangetown, drawing on practical engagement rather than formalized vocational training beyond his academic background. He continued in youth and community roles until 1987, accumulating 16 years of experience in the field.

Local government career

Cardiff City Council service

Alun Michael served as a Labour councillor on City Council from 1973 to 1989, representing the city during a period of significant urban development. His tenure began shortly after his earlier roles in youth work and , providing a foundation for his involvement in local governance. Michael took a prominent role in council committees on and finance, influencing policies aimed at the redevelopment of Cardiff's , including improvements and economic revitalization efforts in the 1970s and 1980s. These contributions aligned with broader post-industrial regeneration initiatives in , though specific projects under his direct oversight remain tied to collective council decisions rather than individual attribution. His council service overlapped with his 1987 election as for Cardiff South and , leading to his resignation from the council in 1989 to focus on national politics.

Justice of the Peace role

Alun Michael was appointed as a (JP) for in 1972, serving as a lay responsible for adjudicating minor criminal offenses and preliminary hearings in the city's magistrates' courts. In this voluntary role, typical of JPs in who handle approximately 95% of criminal cases at the initial stage without professional legal training, Michael contributed to local justice administration for over 15 years until his election to in 1987. Michael chaired the Cardiff Juvenile Bench, specializing in cases involving young offenders, where he presided over hearings related to , including offenses such as , , and minor assaults. This position involved assessing evidence, determining guilt or innocence, and imposing sentences like community orders or referrals to offending programs, often emphasizing rehabilitation over in line with prevailing 1970s-1980s policies influenced by the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. His tenure as a magistrate provided practical insight into the challenges of juvenile , which he later referenced in parliamentary debates on youth crime prevention. Michael's JP service continued to be recognized post-Parliament, with the post-nominal "JP" appended to his honors, such as in announcements of his appointments to voluntary roles in 2024, indicating ongoing association with the magistracy despite his primary focus shifting to elected positions. This early involvement underscored his commitment to community-level and victim support, predating his legislative efforts on broader reforms.

Parliamentary career

Entry into Parliament and constituency representation

Alun Michael was elected to the at the 1987 on 11 June as the Labour and Co-operative MP for Cardiff South and , succeeding former Prime Minister upon his retirement. The constituency, covering southern Cardiff suburbs including Ely and Rumney alongside the town of , had long been a secure Labour hold. Michael retained the seat in every thereafter, including those on 9 April 1992, 1 May 1997, 7 June 2001, 5 May 2005, and 6 May , serving continuously until his resignation on 22 October 2012 to contest the and Crime Commissioner . In the , he received 17,262 votes (38.9% of the total), securing a of 4,709 over the Conservative runner-up. Throughout his 25-year representation of South and , Michael drew on his prior roles as a Cardiff City councillor and youth worker in local wards such as Ely and Llanedeyrn to address community concerns including and urban deprivation. His parliamentary work emphasized principles and local , reflecting the constituency's working-class and industrial heritage.

Ministerial positions in the Home Office

Following the Labour Party's victory in the 1997 general election on 1 May, Alun Michael was appointed Minister of State at the Home Office, serving as deputy to Home Secretary Jack Straw from July 1997 until October 1998. In this role, he oversaw policy areas including criminal justice, policing, and youth justice, signing multiple statutory instruments related to police regulations, sex offender notifications, and harassment protections during 1997 and 1998. His tenure focused on implementing early New Labour commitments to reduce crime through community-based and preventive measures rather than solely punitive approaches. Michael's most significant legislative contribution was steering the through Parliament, which received on 31 July 1998. The Act established statutory requirements for local crime reduction partnerships across , mandated the creation of youth offending teams to address via multi-agency interventions, and introduced Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to restrict persistent offenders' activities. It also created the Youth Justice Board to oversee national strategy, aiming to reduce reoffending rates by emphasizing early intervention and principles. Police leaders later credited the legislation with enabling more effective local coordination, describing it as a foundational for modern policing. During his time in the Home Office, Michael advocated for devolution-sensitive policies, ensuring the Act's framework accommodated emerging Welsh governance structures under the soon-to-be-established for Wales. He departed the department in October 1998 upon his promotion to , amid Ron Davies' resignation, leaving a legacy of structural reforms that influenced subsequent initiatives.

Secretary of State for Wales and First Secretary

Alun Michael served as from 27 October 1998 to 28 July 1999, succeeding Ron Davies whose resignation amid personal scandal had created uncertainty in the lead-up to . In this capacity, he oversaw the implementation of the , coordinating the administrative and electoral preparations for the for , which convened for the first time on 6 May 1999. His tenure focused on ensuring a stable transition of powers from Westminster, including the transfer of responsibilities for , and to the new body, though substantive policy formulation remained limited by the impending shift to the Assembly. Following the 1999 Assembly election, where Labour secured 28 of 60 seats but fell short of a majority, Michael was elected as the first First Secretary (later renamed First Minister) on 12 May 1999, heading a minority administration reliant on cross-party support. As leader, he prioritized establishing the Assembly's operational framework, including cabinet formation and initial policy alignments with UK Labour priorities, while navigating fiscal constraints. A central challenge was the allocation of European Union Objective 1 structural funds for the West Wales and Valleys region, approved in late 1999 but requiring £1.2 billion in UK matching contributions over three years; Michael negotiated with the Treasury for additional resources, securing commitments for £200 million in uplift but facing accusations of shortfall from opponents who demanded full parity with EU grants. Michael's leadership encountered internal Labour divisions, exacerbated by perceptions that he was a Westminster-imposed figure—selected via party over rival , who enjoyed stronger grassroots backing in —and external pressure from and Liberal Democrats. On 9 2000, amid escalating disputes over funding transparency and governance, he resigned preemptively during a on a no-confidence motion, averting a formal vote that analysts deemed likely to succeed given the defection of some Labour members. His 273-day term as First Secretary marked the shortest initial leadership in history at the time, highlighting early tensions between central party control and regional autonomy.

Role in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Alun Michael was appointed for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on 11 June 2001, shortly after the creation of the department and in the aftermath of the 2001 (FMD) outbreak. His role focused on rural recovery efforts, including chairing the to support affected businesses and communities through funding and policy measures, such as allocating resources from the £1.28 billion FMD recovery package. He also oversaw initiatives like the £76 million EU LEADER+ Programme for innovative rural projects and provided £70 million to develop markets as part of non-food strategies. In addition to rural economic stabilization, Michael's responsibilities extended to environmental quality and access issues. He advanced local environmental protections by introducing the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill in 2004, which became law in 2005 and empowered local authorities to tackle litter, graffiti, fly-tipping, and nuisance vehicles through measures like fixed penalty notices and expanded litter control zones. On countryside access, he contributed to the implementation of provisions under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, including designating the as England's eighth on 1 March 2005 and laying preparatory groundwork for the . He also promoted through partnership funds for national parks, building on models initially tested in . Michael's tenure was marked by efforts to balance stakeholder interests in rural policy, including dialogue with farming groups, environmental organizations, and local authorities on DEFRA's broad remit, which encompassed , , and e-business integration in rural payments. However, his most prominent legislative involvement centered on the contentious issue of hunting with dogs, where he steered the government's position toward evidence-based amid polarized debate.

Development and passage of the Hunting Act 2004

As the minister responsible for rural affairs, Alun Michael led the government's response to with dogs, commissioning the Burns Inquiry in 2000, which recommended against a ban but suggested tighter regulation based on utility, cruelty, and effectiveness criteria. In December 2002, he introduced a compromise Hunting Bill permitting licensed under a regulatory authority if it met tests, rejecting both outright bans and unregulated continuation; this passed its second reading but stalled amid opposition from anti-hunting MPs. A revised bill in 2003 similarly proposed licensing but was defeated in the Commons by a 362-154 vote favoring a total ban on mammals with dogs, reflecting Labour backbench pressure despite Michael's advocacy for the regulated approach. In 2004, following electoral commitments, Michael reintroduced legislation aligned with the Burns framework, emphasizing evidence over ideology, but the Commons again opted for a full prohibition via amendment. The House of Lords repeatedly amended the bill to restore regulated hunting, leading Prime Minister Tony Blair to invoke the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 to bypass further delay; the Hunting Act received royal assent on 18 November 2004, banning hunting wild mammals with dogs except in limited cases like pest control or research. Michael defended the outcome as a resolution grounded in inquiry evidence, though critics from pro-hunting groups argued it ignored rural practicalities and Burns' non-ban recommendation, while supporters viewed it as ending perceived cruelty. Post-enactment, enforcement fell to police, with Michael overseeing initial guidance amid ongoing controversy over the law's utility and compliance.

Development and passage of the Hunting Act 2004

Alun Michael, as Minister of State for Rural Affairs at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), oversaw the initial consultations on hunting with dogs following the Burns Inquiry of 2000, which recommended a regulatory approach rather than an outright ban. In 2002, he conducted six months of evidence hearings involving stakeholders, leading to government proposals unveiled on 3 December 2002 that advocated banning stag hunting and hare coursing outright while permitting regulated fox hunting under a utility and cruelty test, with licensing by tribunals. These measures aimed to balance rural traditions with animal welfare concerns, though Michael emphasized evidence-based regulation over ideological prohibition. The proposed bill faced challenges in , where a free vote allowed MPs to diverge from the government's compromise. Introduced in the 2002–03 session, it passed the in a modified form favoring a total ban by a majority of 208 in July 2003, but was rejected by the . Michael, responsible for shepherding the legislation, urged support for the regulated option during debates, warning that an absolute ban risked being "unworkable" and "unenforceable" due to enforcement complexities in rural areas. Despite this, the government reintroduced a ban bill on 9 September 2004 after internal Labour Party pressures, with Michael announcing the move to meet manifesto commitments. Passage accelerated in the 2004 session amid heightened controversy, with the Commons approving the ban on 15 September 2004 during second reading, led by Michael's presentation of as a resolution to prolonged debate. The Lords rejected it multiple times, prompting the invocation of the Parliament Acts on 21 October 2004 to override delays. Michael appealed to peers on 12 November 2004 to accept a licensed compromise to avoid the procedural override, but the ban proceeded, receiving on 18 November 2004 and taking effect on 18 February 2005. The Act prohibited wild mammals with dogs except in limited cases like , marking the culmination of Michael's oversight despite his reservations about its practicality.

Police and Crime Commissioner tenure

Election and oversight of South Wales Police


Alun Michael was elected as the inaugural Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Wales on 15 November 2012, obtaining 66,879 first-preference votes, equivalent to 47% under the supplementary vote system. He succeeded in defeating Conservative candidate Mahidhar Reddy, who received 37,146 first preferences (26%), along with candidates from other parties, amid a low turnout of approximately 15%. Michael, a Labour and Co-operative Party member, had resigned his parliamentary seat in Cardiff South and Penarth earlier that year to contest the PCC election, motivated by a commitment to bolster policing amid anticipated budget reductions. Michael secured re-election in 2016 against Plaid Cymru's Dafydd Llywelyn and in 2021, where he garnered 225,463 votes, achieving a of 97,619 over the Conservative candidate. These victories extended his tenure until May 2024, marking three full terms focused on strategic policing oversight. In his role, Michael held statutory responsibility for appointing and dismissing the , setting the police budget, and issuing Police and Crime Plans that outlined priorities such as reduction, victim support, and community safety enhancements. His oversight approach emphasized rigorous accountability, including regular performance scrutiny of and advocacy for initiatives addressing and youth offending. For instance, the 2017-2021 Police and Crime Reduction Plan targeted joint efforts in policing and to lower reoffending rates and improve public confidence. Annual reports under his documented advancements, such as sustained improvements in response times and detection, positioning among the UK's top-performing forces by metrics like victim satisfaction and operational efficiency. Michael publicly stressed the necessity of constructive tension between the PCC and to maintain independent oversight, rejecting overly collegial dynamics in favor of evidence-based scrutiny. This framework supported fiscal management during , with precept increases approved to mitigate frontline cuts while funding preventive programs. His tenure concluded without seeking a fourth term, transitioning oversight to a successor amid ongoing evaluations of force performance.

Performance metrics and policy implementations

During Alun Michael's tenure as Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales from 2012 to 2024, South Wales Police consistently received positive assessments from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) under the PEEL framework, which evaluates effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy. In the 2021/22 PEEL inspection, the force was rated good in preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, good in responding to the public, and good in protecting vulnerable people. Subsequent reports, such as the 2023–2025 assessment, noted areas requiring improvement in public response but affirmed strengths in crime prevention and operational efficiency despite fiscal constraints from central government grant reductions. Key performance metrics included reductions in targeted violence, with South Wales Police data indicating an 11% drop in violence incidents at peak times following data-sharing initiatives with health services to identify hotspots. Public satisfaction surveys reflected rising confidence, with victim satisfaction rates increasing substantially by 2014, attributed to enhanced victim-centered approaches. Overall, the force maintained one of the higher comparative performances among English and Welsh police services, sustaining neighbourhood policing models amid budget cuts that reduced officer numbers while prioritizing community engagement and crime detection priorities. Policy implementations emphasized violence prevention and partnership working, including the establishment of a Violence Prevention Unit (VPU) focusing on domestic , offending, and . The 2016–2021 Police and Crime Reduction Plan institutionalized data-driven interventions, such as collaborations with accident and emergency departments to inform targeted policing on violence causation, contributing to sustained reductions in serious violence. Michael's oversight reinforced neighbourhood policing as a core strategy, with annual plans mandating partnerships to address reoffending and anti-social behaviour through integrated local responses. These measures aligned with broader priorities of fiscal resilience and , though external pressures like national austerity limited expansions in proactive resourcing.

Handling of major incidents

In May 2021, managed civil unrest in city centre, where crowds gathered in violation of lockdown restrictions, leading to clashes, , and 16 arrests. Alun Michael, as PCC, defended the force's response, stating that officers had effectively de-escalated the situation while prioritising public safety, with no serious injuries reported among participants or police. He praised the operational tactics, including the use of dispersal powers and reinforcements from neighbouring forces, which contained the disorder to a few hours. The most prominent incident occurred on 22 May 2023 in the Ely area of , when two teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan (16) and Roman Bennett (15), died after crashing an electric scooter while reportedly fleeing police suspicion of theft. Michael initially stated publicly on 23 May that no police chase had taken place, relying on information from to counter circulating rumours that he said had fuelled tensions. This preceded riots that evening, involving around 100 participants who set fire to vehicles, attacked officers with missiles, and damaged property, resulting in 18 arrests and injuries to three police officers. Subsequent CCTV footage released showed a police van following the scooter at low speed for approximately 200 metres before the crash, prompting Michael to concede that officers had "followed" the vehicle but maintained it did not constitute a formal pursuit under force policy, as no sirens or lights were activated. He defended his initial comments as based on the best available operational details at the time, amid a fast-moving crisis, and refused to express regret, arguing they aimed to prevent escalation. Critics, including local MP Jo Stevens, questioned why Michael appeared to prioritise defending police over addressing community concerns, suggesting a lack of independence in his oversight role. An independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct was launched into the crash, but its findings on police conduct remained pending as of Michael's retirement in 2024.

Major controversies

Parliamentary expenses investigations

In the 2009 United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal, Alun Michael, then MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, was among those whose claims were scrutinized following disclosures by The Daily Telegraph. His reported expenses included £4,800 for food in one year and £2,600 for roof repairs at his constituency home. Sir Thomas Legg's independent review of MPs' second-home allowances, published on 4 February 2010, determined that Michael had been overpaid £18,889.56 in mortgage interest claims from 2005–06 to 2008–09, as they exceeded permitted limits due to a in accounting for additional loans; he was also overpaid £280 in for 2004–05. Michael repaid the full £19,169.56 promptly and described the mortgage issue as an administrative mistake, with no evidence of intentional misconduct. A subsequent investigation by the Compliance Officer for the Independent Parliamentary Standards (IPSA), initiated in 2011 (reference IN/0010/310311), examined a claim under the MPs' Expenses Scheme for funding related to the website www.alunmichael.com. The probe found that Michael had received reimbursement in contravention of scheme rules, as the claim did not qualify for allowable staffing or other permitted costs. The investigation concluded without sanctions beyond the identification of the breach, and the case was closed on 15 June 2011.

Criticisms of the Hunting Act's implementation and effects

The Hunting Act 2004, steered through by Alun Michael as for Rural Affairs, has faced criticism for its flawed implementation, primarily due to legal ambiguities and evidentiary challenges in proving intent, resulting in low prosecution rates relative to the scale of activity. Official records indicate 448 prosecutions and 228 convictions for hunting offenses from the Act's through 2022, with only a fraction involving organized hunts—such as 24 out of 376 prosecutions cited in parliamentary reviews—often for technical violations like exceeding dog limits rather than deliberate illegal pursuits. Critics, including hunt monitors and advocacy groups, argue that loopholes like "trail hunting" (simulating hunts without intentionally pursuing live ) have enabled widespread circumvention, with 25 documented cases of hounds chasing and killing wild mammals post-Act, many resulting in dropped charges or no penalties due to interpretive defenses. Enforcement difficulties stem from the Act's reliance on demonstrating deliberate over exempt activities like flushing or , leading to under-criminalization despite police acknowledgment of resource constraints and rural sympathies. Regarding effects on animal welfare, empirical assessments have yielded no conclusive evidence that the ban reduced suffering among wild mammals, with alternatives like shooting foxes and deer implicated in higher wounding rates and prolonged distress. The pre-Act Burns Inquiry found hunting not uniquely cruel compared to other methods, yet post-Act data from monitoring groups highlight increased use of less selective shooting, where up to 50% of shots may wound rather than kill foxes outright, leaving animals to suffer from injuries like shattered jaws or of orphaned cubs; deer populations in ban-affected areas showed elevated bovine prevalence (42% vs. 16.6% in hunted regions). poaching and lamping have surged, with reports of 3,000 hares shot on select estates shortly after , exacerbating stress-related conditions like from non-hunting pursuits. Pro-hunting analyses contend the Act displaced humane pack-hunting—selective for weaker animals—with cruder methods, while anti-hunting voices decry persistent illegal chases, underscoring the legislation's failure to deliver promised welfare gains absent rigorous post-enactment studies. Economically and socially, the Act's implementation has been faulted for unintended harm to rural communities, including job losses in hunt-related sectors and ancillary trades like and farriery, with projections of 170 kennel closures and hundreds of positions at risk if trail-hunting loopholes are closed. Rural economies, reliant on hunting for and , experienced disruption without compensatory benefits, as fox populations persisted without evidence of decline, straining farmers who shifted to costlier or less effective controls. Critics attribute community divisions and declining respect for to the Act's poor drafting, which ignored holistic rural needs, while parliamentary testimony notes negligible investment in evaluating these impacts, privileging ideological aims over evidence-based outcomes.

Policing decisions and public accountability issues

During his tenure as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for from 2012 to 2024, Alun Michael faced accusations of in key appointments. In January 2016, he appointed three temporary Assistant Police and Crime Commissioners—Mark Brace, Kate Carr, and Dr. Emily Warren—all of whom had Labour Party affiliations—to fill vacancies following the departure of Deputy PCC Sophie Howe; this move coincided with a proposed 5% precept increase for policing funding. Liberal Democrat critic Judith Woodman labeled the selections secretive and politically motivated, arguing they undermined public trust in impartial oversight. Michael defended the choices as based on the candidates' relevant experience and necessary for maintaining operational parity with senior police roles, with full-time positions to be openly advertised later. A prominent accountability issue arose in the handling of the May 2023 Ely crash in Cardiff, where teenagers Kyrees Sullivan (16) and Harvey Evans (15) died when their electric bike collided with a parked car after being followed by a South Wales Police van on 22 May. Michael initially publicly stated that police had not pursued the boys, attributing subsequent riots—which involved arson, fireworks attacks on officers, and injuries to at least 16 police personnel—to unfounded "rumours" of a chase, while declining interview requests. CCTV footage later confirmed the police vehicle had followed the bike for about 200 meters at speeds up to 20 mph before aborting, prompting Michael to concede a "possibility" of pursuit but insisting he had not been misled and that further investigation was required; an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) probe resulted in misconduct notices for two officers but no criminal charges. Critics, including Labour MP Kevin Brennan and Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan, questioned Michael's suitability to act as the police's public spokesperson rather than prioritizing independent scrutiny and public representation, arguing that PCCs exist to hold forces accountable rather than defend them prematurely. Similarly, in the 2021 Mayhill riots in —sparked by a police and involving and clashes—Michael defended the force's response despite an independent review later identifying "significant failings" in resident protection and communication. Michael emphasized in a 2024 interview that effective PCC oversight requires "a bit of tension" with the to ensure , rejecting overly collegial relationships. However, broader critiques portrayed him as overly aligned with police narratives, potentially eroding public confidence amid low awareness of the PCC role—evidenced by turnout below 20% in his 2021 re-election—and calls for greater transparency in decision-making.

Post-retirement activities

Transition from public office

Alun Michael confirmed in early 2024 that he would not seek re-election for a fourth term as (PCC) for , bringing his tenure to an end after 12 years in the role. First elected in 2012 following his resignation from , Michael secured re-elections in May 2016 and May 2021, overseeing a force serving approximately 1.3 million residents across four counties. The 2024 PCC election occurred on May 2, with results declared the following day. Labour's Emma Wools, who had served as Michael's deputy for eight years, won with 73,128 votes (34.5% of the valid vote), defeating Conservative candidate McEvoy by a margin of over 20,000 votes. Michael attended the count at Sports Centre and offered congratulations to Wools, emphasizing continuity in the office's focus on community safety and . The handover proceeded without reported disruptions, reflecting Michael's prior emphasis on collaborative governance and devolved policing structures. maintained operational stability during the transition, with Wools assuming office on May 8, 2024, to implement the existing 2021–2025 Police and Crime Plan before developing her own strategy. Michael's departure marked the end of his direct involvement in elected public service, spanning over four decades since his initial election as MP for South and in 1987.

Ongoing commentary and affiliations

In the period following his retirement as Police and Crime Commissioner for in May 2024, Alun Michael has taken on voluntary leadership roles in organizations supporting youth and child welfare initiatives. On 6 November 2024, he was appointed as an ambassador for , a UK-wide charity focused on providing services to vulnerable children, families, and young people, with the role involving advocacy and representation at events such as a reception held at . Michael also serves as President of the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS), an umbrella body representing voluntary youth organizations across , where his responsibilities include promoting the sector's contributions to and youth engagement, drawing on his extensive prior background. Public records indicate limited formal commentary from Michael on policing, crime, or broader political matters since his retirement, with his activities centered primarily on these charitable affiliations rather than media or policy advocacy.

References

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