The Police and Crime Commissioner and his office are responsible for maintaining an efficient and effective police service for North Wales. Scrutinising and challenging North Wales Police’s performance is a key part of their work. This includes monitoring performance against the Police and Crime Plan.
Aside from conducting oversight work directly themselves, there are times where the office values members of the public taking an active part in scrutinising the work of the police. These members of the public from all backgrounds and walks of life play an invaluable role in offering an independent view of the work of police.
This can involve visiting people in custody to make sure their rights are being protected, ensuring the welfare of police dogs, taking part in groups overseeing police relations with minority and vulnerable communities, including the LGBTQ+ people, Black and Minority Ethnic people, disabled people and young people .
You can read more about each of the various independent visiting and scrutiny schemes, groups, and panels below along with information on how to join and take part. The scrutiny areas and schemes include:
Independent Custody Visitors are members of the public recruited by the Police and Crime Commissioner to visit Custody Suites in north Wales at random to check on the treatment and welfare of people held in custody by the police. It is a statutory duty for the Commissioner to have an Independent Custody Visitors Scheme.
Custody Visitors visit in pairs and arrive unannounced at Custody Suites, they are given immediate access to the custody area. Their job is to speak to the people held in custody and inspect the conditions in which they are being held. At the end of each visit they prepare a report on their findings.
If any issues are raised in the reports, these are resolved straight away by talking to the Custody Officer or if they’re more complicated the matter will be referred immediately to the Custody Inspector. All feedback reports are analysed by the Force and Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and discussed at the Independent Custody Visitors Panel meeting which are held every 3 months.
Custody Visitors come from a variety of backgrounds and sections of the community. They must be over 18, live or work in the force area and have no direct involvement in the criminal justice system.
All work done is on a voluntary basis, and travelling expenses are reimbursed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The joint Police Dog Welfare Scheme in Cheshire and North Wales was set up to check on the welfare of police dogs.
Police Dog Welfare Visitors check on the welfare of all police dogs, particularly in relation to the RSPCA’s ‘Five Freedoms’ attending kennels and training facilities.
The RSPCA believes that anyone responsible for looking after animals should try to give them the five freedoms. The five freedoms are considered aspirational, as they cannot always be achieved and maintained at all times. For example, an animal may need to feel hungry before it will eat. However, animal keepers should always aim to provide the five freedoms to their animals as far as possible.
The five freedoms are:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst - animals should have access to fresh water all the time and the right type of food to keep them fit.
- Freedom from discomfort - animals should have the right type of home, including shelter and somewhere comfortable to rest.
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease - animals should always be fit and well and should be treated by a vet if they are sick or injured.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour - animals should have enough space, proper facilities and the company of other animals of their own kind.
- Freedom from fear or distress - by making sure the animals' conditions and treatment avoid mental suffering.
Why was the Police Dog Welfare Visitor Scheme created?
More than 21 years ago, the death of police dog ‘Acer’ whilst training in Essex, as well as the subsequent prosecution of police officers involved, resulted in an understandable loss of public confidence in relation to police dog training methods.
The Police Dog Welfare Scheme aims to maintain standards and ensure that Cheshire Constabulary’s training procedures are ethical, humane, transparent and accountable. Police Dog Welfare Visitors observe, comment and report on the conditions in which the Constabulary’s dogs are housed, trained and transported.
We currently have a number of experienced and dedicated volunteers who work hard to ensure standards are high and that members of the public are well-serviced.
The overall purpose of the Independent Custody Detention Scrutiny Panel is to ensure that the implementation of police detention and custody procedures in North Wales are proportionate, lawful, and necessary.
Panel members will be expected to:
- assess and report on detention and custody processes;
- review and advise on matters of disproportionality; and
- assist in generating a transparent product suitable for public consideration at the end of each annual Panel cycle.
North Wales Police host online community meetings for local people to discuss policing in North Wales.
The North Wales Police Race Group Meeting is hosted for members of the community to talk about policing matters that relate to race.
These meetings are an opportunity for people to feedback directly to North Wales Police about problems, crime types, community tensions or other general policing issues that affect people due to their race. They are also an opportunity for the police to share information about relevant policing issues in North Wales.
The meetings which are held quarterly, are a great chance for members of the public and community organisations to express views, air concerns, problem solve, and contribute to conversations about race and policing. There are no specific requirements of attendees – you are welcome to come along just to listen or join in the conversation. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure the police are kept alive to crime and policing issues impacting on communities. If you think the police need a better insight into how race-related crime and police action is affecting people, please come along.
Meetings usually last for around 2 hours and have North Wales Police officers and staff in attendance. They are currently chaired by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Topics usually covered include Stop & Search, Hate Crime, Community Tensions and the Anti-Racism Action Plan.
If you are interested to take part in the meetings, please contact Lisa McNulty (Lisa.McNulty@northwales.police.uk) of the Force Diversity Unit who will add you to our contacts list and can arrange to send you a Teams invitation. If you would like more information or to discuss the role of this group in greater detail, please contact me, Elizabeth Ward (Elizabeth.ward@northwales.police.uk).
Also, if you used to attend but haven’t been for a while, please reconnect via Lisa. It is really important that we make the most of the opportunity to speak to and signpost the police about crime and race issues.
The North Wales Police LGBT+ Group Meeting is hosted for members of the community to talk about policing matters that relate to LGBT+ people.
These meetings are an opportunity for people to feedback directly to North Wales Police about problems, crime types, community tensions or other general policing issues that affect people because they are LGBT+. They are also an opportunity for the police to share information about relevant policing issues in North Wales.
The meetings which are held quarterly, are a great chance for members of the public and community organisations to express views, air concerns, problem solve, and contribute to conversations about policing issues for the LGBT+ community. There are no specific requirements of attendees – you are welcome to come along just to listen or join in the conversation. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure the police are kept alive to crime and policing issues impacting on communities. If you think the police need a better insight into how LGBT+-related crime and police action is affecting people, please come along.
Meetings usually last for around 2 hours and have North Wales Police officers and staff in attendance. They are currently chaired by a member of the community. Topics usually covered include Stop & Search, Hate Crime, and Community Tensions.
If you are interested to take part in the meetings, please contact Lisa McNulty (Lisa.McNulty@northwales.police.uk) of the Force Diversity Unit who will add you to our contacts list and can arrange to send you a Teams invitation. If you would like more information or to discuss the role of this group in greater detail, please contact Greg George (Corporate Head of Diversity Development) Greg.George@northwales.police.uk.
Also, if you used to attend but haven’t been for a while, please reconnect via Lisa. It is really important that we make the most of the opportunity to speak to and signpost the police about crime and LGBT+ issues.
The North Wales Police Disability Group Meeting is hosted for members of the community to talk about policing matters that relate to disabled people.
These meetings are an opportunity for people to feedback directly to North Wales Police about problems, crime types, community tensions or other general policing issues that affect disabled people. They are also an opportunity for the police to share information about relevant policing issues in North Wales.
The meetings which are held quarterly, are a great chance for members of the public and community organisations to express views, air concerns, problem solve, and contribute to conversations about policing issues for disabled people. There are no specific requirements of attendees – you are welcome to come along just to listen or join in the conversation. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure the police are kept alive to crime and policing issues impacting on communities. If you think the police need a better insight into how disability-related crime and police action is affecting people, please come along.
Meetings usually last for around 2 hours and have North Wales Police officers and staff in attendance. They are currently chaired by the North Wales Police Head of Diversity. Topics usually covered include Stop & Search, Hate Crime, and Community Tensions.
If you are interested to take part in the meetings, please contact Lisa McNulty (Lisa.McNulty@northwales.police.uk) of the Force Diversity Unit who will add you to our contacts list and can arrange to send you a Teams invitation. If you would like more information or to discuss the role of this group in greater detail, please contact Greg George (Corporate Head of Diversity Development) Greg.George@northwales.police.uk.
Also, if you used to attend but haven’t been for a while, please reconnect via Lisa. It is really important that we make the most of the opportunity to speak to and signpost the police about crime and LGBT+ issues.
- North Wales Police Public Use of Force Scrutiny Panel
- Stop & Search Scrutiny Panel
- North Wales Police Independent Advisory Group