Date
25/01/23: North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin is launching a new monthly advice surgery for residents as part of his mission to bring policing closer to the people of the region. The initiative will enable local people to discuss policing in their communities and to raise any concerns or comments they might have with the Commissioner.
A monthly meeting will be held in towns and villages across the North Wales area, both large and small, rural and urban, and right across the six counties. The first five locations have been announced as Bala, Ruthin, Pwllheli, Bangor and Barmouth. Further locations for the rest of 2023 will be announced in due course.
The commissioner is happy to talk through matters that affect residents in their local community. Attendees will have 15 minutes to speak with the Commissioner, who will be accompanied by representatives from his office and from North Wales Police, to provide the maximum possible assistance to the public. The conversations will remain confidential, and the Commissioner and his staff will be able to provide further signposting if an issue can be more appropriately dealt with by other agencies and organisations.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, commented: “I am delighted to announce the start of my monthly advice surgeries for the people of North Wales. I always aim to listen closely to what residents are telling me and in the recent consultation I had with them regarding the policing precept, it was clear to me that many people want to have a closer and more personal relationship with policing, especially in the more rural areas of North Wales.
“I would urge local residents to get in touch, book their place and meet me to discuss their problems, so that we can do our best to address them. As a PCC who is rooted in the community, I am determined to bring visible policing – and the way it works – closer to communities and neighbourhoods right across North Wales.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner has four main duties, they are to set the priorities for policing in North Wales; to decide the budget for North Wales Police; to listen and respond to the public’s views on policing; and to hold the Chief Constable to account. The surgeries are a further example of the key priorities in Andy Dunbobbin’s Police and Crime Plan of delivering safer neighbourhoods, supporting victims and communities, and creating a fair and effective criminal justice system.
Scheduled surgeries
23 February pm in Bala
23 March am in Ruthin
19April pm in Pwllheli
25 May pm in Bangor
21June pm Barmouth
How it works
PCC Surgeries will be held on a monthly basis at a variety of accessible venues across North Wales.
The PCC will be accompanied by staff from his team and North Wales Police who will help to facilitate the meetings and take notes if needed.
Surgeries are by appointment only to ensure that the issues being raised relate to policing, crime or community safety, and to ensure the PCC is fully briefed on the issue prior to the meeting.
While the Commissioner is unable to intervene in operational matters, he welcomes residents’ feedback on how North Wales is policed.
The PCC will not be able to consider complaints about police officers, member of police staff, police community support officers or special constables as this has to go through the existing and established channels. Further advice on the complaints system is on the OPCC website here.
How to book a place
If you would like to book a 15-minute slot with Andy Dunbobbin, please contact the PCC’s office with your name, contact information and what you would like to discuss during your meeting, by:
Email: opcc@northwales.police.uk
Phone: 01492 805486
Post: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales, Police Headquarters. Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW
Please note, surgery slots are limited and work on a first come, first served basis and a slot cannot guarantee a slot for everyone. If a session is full, residents will be given the details of alternative sessions.