I will be your voice and cut crime in North Wales
POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR IN THE ROLE
THE recent local elections were an important milestone for me in my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, as it marked a year since I was elected into office. Since then, I have worked hard to deliver on my promises to the people of North Wales.
For those unfamiliar with the role, my job is to act as the people’s voice for policing in our area.
I have a duty to ensure an efficient and effective police force that demonstrates value for money and, above all, cuts crime.
On coming into office, I set out a Police and Crime Plan to focus on the key areas North Wales Police will be expected to deliver on.
These are – to deliver safer neighbourhoods; support victims and communities; and ensure a fair and effective Criminal Justice System.
A key part of my team’s job is to commission services that benefit people and help cut crime.
For example, over the past year, funding has gone towards providing support services to women and girls at risk of violence and exploitation, working with people who might have substance misuse issues to prevent reoffending, and towards a dedicated victim help centre that supports tens of thousands of victims every year.
Another important part of my role is supporting community projects through the Your Community, Your Choice initiative, which is also backed by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police.
Funding for this is often recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using money seized from criminals.
I have been privileged to visit projects that received funding, from the Talwrn
District Campsite for the Scouts, to a new riverside walk in Dyffryn Ardudwy, to Youth Sheds in Kinmel Bay and Abergele.
Money has also been secured to improve safety across our region. In Wrexham, funding will help reduce the number of offences involving violence against women and girls.
This new Safer Streets initiative will include improving CCTV coverage, creating safer spaces for women and girls as well as providing training and education.
Funding will also go towards a high-tech blitz on crime hotspots in Colwyn Bay and Bangor, and this will also target organised gangs and offenders from outside the area through technology like automated number plate recognition.
The rural economy is crucial to North Wales and I have been encouraging the farming community to tap into wireless technology to cut crime. The Future Farms Cymru project is being masterminded by North Wales Police’s pioneering Rural Crime Team and, as part of the scheme, sensors linked to an app alert farmers immediately if anything is stolen. Our police force should be as representative as possible of the communities we serve, and I have supported North Wales Police’s efforts to reach out to underrepresented groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to encourage them to join the police. As Commissioner, I am also conscious of the pressures we are all living under.
We all pay for the policing of our streets and, given the increasing cost of living, I understand how important it is for policing to demonstrate value for money.
Policing is paid for via the precept, which is added to your council tax. This year, the Police and Crime Panel agreed that this would increase by 22p per week for an average Band D property.
As well as savings found internally, this additional money will help to fund 10 additional PCSOs, and we will also see an increase of 82 police officers.
I am determined to see your money is spent as effectively as possible to keep your family, friends and neighbours as safe as possible.
It was a privilege to be elected by the people of North Wales this time last year to be their voice in policing.
Winning the election was one of the proudest moments of my life and I am determined to continue working hard, in partnership with the Chief Constable and officers of North Wales, to make our region the safest place possible for us all.