New police boss pledges to put 'more bobbies on the beat' in North Wales

The region’s newly-elected police and crime commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, says he will increase the number of officers and staff during his three-year term of office.

He also promised to improve the technology at their disposal so police officers could spend more time out and about in communities across North Wales, rather than having to return to their police stations to complete form filling or search for information.

Mr Dunbobbin gave the assurance in his first Police and Crime Plan which sets out the overall strategy for policing North Wales that Chief Constable Carl Foulkes will have to implement.

The plan will be presented to a meeting of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel on Monday.

Andy Dunbobbin North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. Picture Mandy Jones.

The priorities contained in the commissioner’s new blueprint include:

• Delivering safer neighbourhoods
• Supporting victims and communities
• Fair and effective criminal justice system

In drawing up the plan, the commissioner says he has consulted widely and listened to what the public want.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, one frequent complaint made to him during his election campaign was that residents didn’t see any police officers in their communities any more.

He said: “I will work hard to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of police officers and staff.

“The number one priority for communities is to improve visible policing - providing reassurance, gathering intelligence and disrupting criminal activity.

“Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) provide the visibility and reassurance but are also widely regarded as being an invaluable source of intelligence to tackle the most serious and organised criminality.

“The work of our Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) relies heavily on the local intelligence NPTs provide. Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of this Plan.

“In order to tackle issues ranging from drug dealing in our towns to rural crime on our farms, it’s imperative that all our North Wales communities have positive relationships and experiences with their local police, helping break down existing barriers and empowering residents to have their say on where we as a service should be focusing our efforts.

“In addition to increasing the number of officers in our communities, I am also committed to working with the Chief Constable in improving the digital support available to our current officers and staff thereby increasing the amount of time they spend in the community.”