N.Wales PCC wins openness plaudit

A POLICE boss has spoken of his pride after receiving an award for the fourth year running for the open and transparent way he and his staff work.

The office of North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones has once again been presented with a Transparency Quality Mark by CoPaCC, an organisation that monitors police governance. The accolade was given for making information accessible on his website so that members of the public can find out easily what he’s doing.

Mr Jones (pictured below), a former police inspector, called for more openness and transparency in public life during the campaign that saw him elected in 2016. He said: “I am particularly proud of this particular award because I believe passionately in the importance of being totally open about what I do.

“People in public office should publish more than the information they are legally obliged to disclose.

“We are funded by taxpayers and they have an absolute right to know what we do and how we spend their money.

“We are accountable to them so operating in a transparent way is part of that process, rather than hiding away behind legislation and exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act.

“I must pay tribute to the staff in my office because they have worked extremely hard to ensure that we received this quality mark. I am very grateful to them.”

The awards are sponsored by the leading police assurance provider, Grant Thornton.