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A key responsibility of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, is holding the Chief Constable to account for how North Wales Police carries out its duties. Scrutiny takes place in a variety of ways, one of which is the Strategic Executive Board. The latest board meeting took place on 30 October, when Andy Dunbobbin and his team met with the Chief Officers of North Wales Police to review overall Force performance, including against the priorities in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan.
At this board, which was chaired by the PCC, the Chief Constable provided an update on North Wales Police performance on three primary areas:
- Operation Soteria
- Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan
- Road Safety
Operation Soteria is a Home Office funded research and change programme to drive up charging and conviction rates for rape and serious sexual offences. The Commissioner heard how the Force have been progressing the National Operating Model and the six pillars approach. The six pillars are:
- Suspect focused investigations
- Repeat suspects
- Procedural justice approach to victim engagement
- Learning development and officer and staff well-being
- Data and performance
- Digital Forensics
The commissioner also scrutinised the progress of the North Wales Police Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Delivery Plan. North Wales Police have adopted a refreshed framework, which outlines how they will protect women and girls from violence; pursue those who commit or seek to commit offences; prevent offences being committed; and prepare policing to continually improve the safety of women and girls on our communities across North Wales.
The Commissioner conducted a review of Road Safety. The areas examined included killed and seriously injured data and an understanding of the types of fatal collisions, locations, and driver ages. Enforcement was also looked at, including data on the enforcement of offences, such as drink and drug driving, speeding and mobile phone use. Another area examined was how North Wales Police are approaching the issue of off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters, as well as the use Community Speed Watch.
Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Andy Dunbobbin said: “The Strategic Executive Board provides me with the opportunity to scrutinise how the Chief Constable is performing in key areas, particularly those in my Police and Crime Plan. Early consultation with the public for the new Plan has enabled me to get a good feeling for what matters to communities, and this was reflected in the deep dive approach to the areas I reviewed.
“North Wales Police was an early adopter of Operation Soteria, and I wanted to get a full understanding of how the National Operating Model is being embedded in North Wales. Operation Soteria is critical in delivering real and sustained improvement and transformational change across the criminal justice system. Only by improving support for victims and ensuring more perpetrators are bought to justice will this be achieved. I will continually revisit the model and six pillars approach to improve justice outcomes for victims of rape and serious sexual offences.
“Secondly, I scrutinised the Force VAWG action plan. In February 2023, the Home Secretary included VAWG within the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR), which sets out the national threats to public safety. This means that North Wales Police response to VAWG should be on a par with terrorism and serious and organised crime. I wanted to ensure North Wales Police is listening to victims and hearing their voices, so that the VAWG plan is working towards what matters for them. Excellent work has been achieved in recent times in this area, but there is always plenty more to do, again this area is one that I will keep under continual scrutiny.
“In respect of examining road safety, North Wales has seen some significant reductions in the number of fatal casualties across the region, which have decreased by 19%. I also heard about Operation Darwen, the all-Wales campaign which runs from early spring through until the autumn and is aimed at increasing awareness of motorcycle safety and reducing casualties on the roads. Another area I have received concern from the public is in relation to off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, and scooters. The Police are developing ways to tackle when they are used for anti-social behaviour, an approach which I fully support.
“As PCC for North Wales, I want to again reassure the public that I will continue to scrutinise the Force performance and work closely with the Chief Constable to support the ongoing work.”