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A key responsibility of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin is to hold the Chief Constable to account for how North Wales Police carries out its duties. Scrutiny takes place in a wide variety of forums, one of the main ways is through the Strategic Executive Board. The latest board took place on Tuesday 18 February,where the PCC 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, Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman provided an update on the recent police efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy (PEEL) inspection for North Wales Police. This was conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). PEEL inspections assess each police force in England and Wales, giving graded judgments across several core questions.
The PCC and his team heard the Chief Constable’s response to the PEEL inspection report across all the inspection areas, and specifically the three areas graded as requiring improvement:
- Investigating Crime
- Protecting Vulnerable People
- Leadership and Force Management
Examination of these areas included hearing how improvements have been made in terms of training, governance and resourcing. Along with these areas, the PCC heard how the other areas within PEEL, including Crime Data Integrity – which was graded as outstanding – are continually being reviewed to ensure services to victims runs as a core theme through every area of policing.
The Commissioner also scrutinised the progress of North Wales Police regarding Serious and Organised Crime (SOC). This was part of continued scrutiny following a separate HMICFS inspection in November 2023. This specifically included the following areas:
- Ensuring staff understand the importance of tackling emerging threats from SOC.
- Increasing the Force’s ability to understand emerging threats and recording good practice to improve performance.
- Training for Local Policing Teams.
- Increased focus on proactivity across North Wales.
- How the Force will work with local partners to further implement the Clear Hold Build initiative – this is a plan to build community resilience, improve confidence and trust in the Police, and make an area a safer place to live.
- How data will be used to target offenders and drive prevention.
Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Andy Dunbobbin said: “I continue to use the Strategic Executive Board to provide me with the opportunity to scrutinise how the Chief Constable is performing in key areas, particularly those in my Police and Crime Plan.
“I know, like me, the public will have been concerned about aspects of the recent PEEL inspection, where in some areas the Force were graded as requiring improvement. When the report was published in December last year, I said that I had no doubt that the Chief Constable was already taking measures to address the issues raised. Therefore, it was only appropriate that, at the earliest opportunity, I scrutinised her plans to improve performance in the areas identified as requiring improvement. I also received a comprehensive update on the other areas of the PEEL inspection process.
“I was reassured that the Chief Constable, continues to drive forward many workstreams that are addressing the issues raised particularly around crime investigation and protecting vulnerable people. My team and I will continue the analysis of these areas to check progress continues.
“I also scrutinised the Force workplan in relation to SOC. This is part of my continued revisiting of this area following the inspection into SOC in 2023. I’ve had several briefings on progress in addressing early issues raised and look forward to the re-inspection that will take place by HMICFS shortly. I was satisfied that the Force is taking steps to make SOC everyone’s business in tackling serious threats to our communities.
“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.”
Residents can learn more about the Strategic Executive Board and read minutes of past meetings on the OPCC website here: Scrutiny of Policing Services | Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales (northwales-pcc.gov.uk)