Police News & Announcements

[SteveH]

NORTH Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin has looked back on his work and that of his office over the past 12 months.

The PCC said: "Christmas is an incredibly special time of the year for people across North Wales and, as the Big Day approaches, I wanted to share with residents and visitors to our beautiful region a festive message ? one where we reflect on the past year, but also look ahead to what will hopefully be a positive, prosperous and productive year for us all.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24000105.pcc-andy-dunbobbins-festive-message-residents/

[SteveH]

OVER 100 arrests have been made as part of the annual Christmas anti drink and drug drive Campaign in North Wales.

Since the start of the campaign on December 1st, 45 drink drive arrests and 59 drug drive arrests have been made across the region.

Several of those arrested on suspicion of drink driving will be appearing before Court over the next few weeks and face the prospect of losing their licence and receiving unlimited fines. Some even face the real possibility of being given prison sentences.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24011206.arrests-part-christmas-anti-drink-drug-campaign/

[SteveH]

MORE THAN 165 people were caught at the wheel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs during a campaign run by North Wales Police last month.

The annual drink and drug driving campaign, which ran from 1 December 2023 to 1 January 2024, saw 79 arrests across the region for drink-driving, with another 90 for drug-driving.

The highest breath test reading at the roadside was 122 (the legal limit is 35). The 42-year-old man from Penrhyn Bay was stopped by police in Llandudno on December 13.

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24063017.165-arrested-drink-drug-driving-december/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

North Wales Police tops survey of public confidence


exp-player-logo
?Bingo That?s Bonkers? to come to
Llandudno?s Venue Cymru

A survey has shown that 77 per cent of people in North Wales have confidence in the way the region is policed, putting it at the top of the Crime Survey for England and Wales.

The force also achieved the second highest percentage nationally for those who agreed that the police would treat them with respect (86.5 per cent).

The figures, published by ONS, come after data which showed the force maintains the second lowest figure nationally for rates of recorded neighbourhood crime per 1,000 population.

Read More........  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24071462.north-wales-police-tops-survey-public-confidence/

[SteveH]

COUNCIL TAX RISE:  North Wales Police and Crime Panel approved the lower than anticipated increase in the policing precept, suggested by PCC Andy Dunbobbin. From April, this will mean a 32p per week (or ?16.56 per year) increase in Council Tax for a Band D property.
 
Over half of people who participated in a survey on the precept were supportive of an annual  increase of at least ?17.50. More than 1,000 people of North Wales took part in the survey between November 27 and January 7.

[SteveH]

Police will stop visiting schools to help with pupil behaviour after the Welsh government said it will axe the scheme.

School Beat Cymru allowed for 68 officers across Wales' four forces to deliver lessons on substance abuse, safety, safeguarding and behaviour.

But the government is to stop funding the scheme in order to save ?2m a year from April.

It said it was instead focusing on protecting frontline services.

Police commissioners have said they are unhappy at finding out so late about the cut and have promised to fund the scheme until July.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68245332

[SteveH]

How much anti-social behaviour funding North Wales Police is getting

EVERY police force in Wales and England is being handed a share of ?66 million to ramp up patrols in areas plagued by anti-social behaviour.

The UK Government funding is expected to allow each of the 43 forces to launch uniformed patrols for up to an estimated 20,000 hours a year in so-called ?hotspot? areas where there are high levels of violence and disorder.

North Wales Police is being given ?1 million, as is neighbouring Dyfed-Powys Police, along with Gwent Police, while South Wales Police will get ?1,429,204.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24121092.much-anti-social-behaviour-funding-north-wales-police-getting/

[SteveH]

The number of fines handed out to drivers in North Wales for using their mobile phones at the wheel has risen by nearly two-thirds following an update to the law, new figures show.

The AA said the tightening of the law has driven the substantial rise in offences across England and Wales, but also attributed the increased use of dashcams for helping catch drivers using their mobiles.

Home Office figures show North Wales Police handed out 455 fixed penalty notices to people for driving while using a hand-held device in 2022.

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24140093.number-drivers-caught-phones-north-wales/

[SteveH]

Police warning to parents about dangers of online gaming

PARENTS have been urged to make sure they know the potential benefits and risks their children may face in gaming online.

North Wales Police?s Cyber Crime Team and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are joining with online safety experts, Get Safe Online to highlight some of the threats of online gaming ? and how children and young people can game safely.

PARENTS have been urged to make sure they know the potential benefits and risks their children may face in gaming online.


North Wales Police?s Cyber Crime Team and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are joining with online safety experts, Get Safe Online to highlight some of the threats of online gaming ? and how children and young people can game safely.

https://www.getsafeonline.org/  Get Safe Online is a leading source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety in the UK.

full article.. https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24173854.police-warning-parents-dangers-online-gaming/

[SteveH]

Graffiti and litter offenders must clean up in 48 hours under new rules
The Ministry of Justice said new 'rapid deployment teams' will 'swiftly deal with' antisocial behaviour

Offenders will be forced to clean vandalism within 48 hours from the point they're reported to local authorities, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed. It said 'rapid deployment teams' of people serving community sentences will be made to scrub graffiti and litter-pick under plans to 'swiftly deal with' antisocial behaviour.

The rules seek to ensure that offenders 'atone for their crimes in a way that benefits the law-abiding majority' and 'allows the public to see justice being done in their own communities', according to the MoJ. A wider rollout of the scheme across Wales and England comes after a 2023 pilot in Greater Manchester, the East of England, Wales and the North East.

The public has been urged to nominate local projects for offenders to tackle within 48 hours of cases being reported to the council and passed to the Probation Service. The Conservatives and Labour have ramped up their commitments on crime ahead of this year's election, with senior Tories saying emphasis on 'bread and butter' Conservative issues will assist as Sunak seeks to reverse Labour's lead.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/graffiti-and-litter-offenders-must-clean-up-in-48-hours-under-new-rules/

[SteveH]

Four political parties are set to fight it out in the race to elect the next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales.

Voters in the region will head to the polls on May 2 to elect a commissioner whose responsibilities include deciding the budget for North Wales Police and holding the force's chief constable to account.

Labour incumbent Andy Dunbobbin is among those standing after the former Flintshire councillor was first appointed in May 2021.

The other challengers are Brian Jones, a local councillor from Rhyl, for the Conservatives, former deputy North Wales PCC Ann Griffith for Plaid Cymru and former Liverpool councillor Richard Marbrow for the Liberal Democrats.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24239498.north-wales-police-commissioner-candidates-revealed-full/

[SteveH]

What do voters want from PCCs in Wales?

Cyber crime, drug abuse and speeding are just some of the issues that will face Wales' newly elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

Voters go to the polls on May 2 to pick Wales' four new PCCs - one for each police force.

The elected officials will help ensure their police forces function effectively, but they do not get involved in day-to-day decision making.

BBC Wales News visited the neighbouring coastal towns of Rhyl and Prestatyn, in Denbighshire, to see what people want their commissioner to focus on.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxe90eppxj7o

[Hugo]

"The elected officials will help ensure their police forces function effectively, but they do not get involved in day-to-day decision making"

If that is the case why are the four candidates standing on behalf of the four main political parties and not as independant candidates?
I've just had a leaflet pushed through my letterbox on behalf of the Conservative Party and there is a big headline in it "20,000 extra Police (delivered) "
In 2019. the Government promised to recruit 20,000 extra Police and the Government recruited every single one.    Don't forget that that was Boris' promise and he wouldn't lie, would he?
The article didn't say whether  the 20,000 recruits were in addition to the existing Police compliment in 2019 or not.    Are they just manipulating statistics?    It makes me wonder as I haven't seen a Police Officer on the beat for many years

[norman08]

Hugo we know very well this 20 k extra police is another Tory lie.   The force in this area is that understaffed they have to draft them in from Merseyside Manchester and Cheshire forces, few years ago we had a sergeant who said he?d go into work in the morning there would be him and a PCSO if two calls came in he would have to decide the one to attend.  This gov keep saying crime is down. But every day you are hearing / seeing stabbings or shootings etc.

[Hugo]

Norman, statistics don't mean a thing, they can be used in any way that suits their cause.      They may well have recruited 20,000 people but I bet that more Police have retired or left the force since 2019 and it wouldn't surprise me if the number of Police Officers in Post now is ,below the 2019 figure
This is the General Election year so the Parties are all full of Hype like they were in 2019
Remember Boris' promises that they will build 40 new hospitals?    Another lie
We'll take control of our borders another lie