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North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner launches surgery
An online public surgery, hosted by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, will take place on September 10 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm via Microsoft Teams. The event invites residents to discuss policing concerns in rural communities and forms part of Rural Crime Action Week, taking place September 8-10. Mr Dunbobbin said: "I am delighted to be hosting an online surgery for the people of North Wales focused specifically on rural and wildlife crime, which is an area I am hugely focused on in my job and which forms a key part of my Police and Crime Plan to reduce offending in North Wales. "I always aim to listen closely to what residents are telling me, and the online surgery is a great way for residents of North Wales to voice their concerns. "Please get in touch now to book and discuss any issues that you want to raise with me." Rural and wildlife crime is a central priority in Mr Dunbobbin's Police and Crime Plan for North Wales. The surgery will give residents the opportunity to speak directly with the commissioner and representatives from North Wales Police, including staff from the commissioner's office. Each attendee will be allocated a confidential 20-minute slot to discuss personal concerns or broader issues affecting their communities. Topics for discussion may include the six priorities identified in the Wales Rural Crime Strategy, launched in July. The strategy is a collaboration between Welsh police forces and the Welsh Government, building on the progress of the first joint strategy. The new action plan focuses on bird crime, farm crime, habitats, heritage crime, mammals and European protected species, and networking rural support services. The last priority specifically addresses mental health vulnerabilities in rural areas. The surgeries are by appointment only to ensure discussions are relevant to policing, crime, or community safety, and to allow the commissioner to be fully briefed in advance. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the surgery, and attendees may be directed to other agencies if their concerns fall outside the commissioner's remit. The Police and Crime Commissioner cannot address complaints against individual police officers, staff, PCSOs, or special constables, as these must be handled through established complaints channels. To book a 20-minute slot, residents are asked to contact the commissioner's office by email at opcc@ by phone on 01492 805486, or by post at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales, Police Headquarters, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW. Slots are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If the session is fully booked, alternative dates will be offered.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner launches surgery
An online public surgery, hosted by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, will take place on September 10 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm via Microsoft Teams. The event invites residents to discuss policing concerns in rural communities and forms part of Rural Crime Action Week, taking place September 8-10. Mr Dunbobbin said: "I am delighted to be hosting an online surgery for the people of North Wales focused specifically on rural and wildlife crime, which is an area I am hugely focused on in my job and which forms a key part of my Police and Crime Plan to reduce offending in North Wales. "I always aim to listen closely to what residents are telling me, and the online surgery is a great way for residents of North Wales to voice their concerns. "Please get in touch now to book and discuss any issues that you want to raise with me." Rural and wildlife crime is a central priority in Mr Dunbobbin's Police and Crime Plan for North Wales. The surgery will give residents the opportunity to speak directly with the commissioner and representatives from North Wales Police, including staff from the commissioner's office. Each attendee will be allocated a confidential 20-minute slot to discuss personal concerns or broader issues affecting their communities. Topics for discussion may include the six priorities identified in the Wales Rural Crime Strategy, launched in July. The strategy is a collaboration between Welsh police forces and the Welsh Government, building on the progress of the first joint strategy. The new action plan focuses on bird crime, farm crime, habitats, heritage crime, mammals and European protected species, and networking rural support services. The last priority specifically addresses mental health vulnerabilities in rural areas. The surgeries are by appointment only to ensure discussions are relevant to policing, crime, or community safety, and to allow the commissioner to be fully briefed in advance. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the surgery, and attendees may be directed to other agencies if their concerns fall outside the commissioner's remit. The Police and Crime Commissioner cannot address complaints against individual police officers, staff, PCSOs, or special constables, as these must be handled through established complaints channels. To book a 20-minute slot, residents are asked to contact the commissioner's office by email at opcc@ by phone on 01492 805486, or by post at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales, Police Headquarters, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW. Slots are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If the session is fully booked, alternative dates will be offered.
North Wales Live
02-07-2025
- North Wales Live
Anti-social behaviour is on the decline in North Wales, policing boss says
Anti-social behaviour in North Wales is on the downturn, says the area's police and crime commissioner after visiting towns across the region. A report to the North Wales Police and Crime Panel backed the claims and was presented to members at a meeting at Conwy 's Coed Pella HQ. The report from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin says anti-social behaviour (ASB) is down by 4.6% from last year, whilst police attendance at incidents had increased by 5%. Earlier this year, Mr Dunbobbin attended a Llandudno residents' meeting organised by Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders after a spate of vandalism in the resort. Gangs of youths had been accused of smashing up shelters on the promenade, stealing from hotels, and vandalising Venue Cymru. Mrs Finch-Saunders and Mr Dunbobbin later rowed, disputing crime figures in the town, with the commissioner complaining about Mrs Finch-Saunders instructing residents to log incidents with her office. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. But presenting to the panel, Mr Dunbobbin explained he had attended a Home Office briefing in May on keeping town centres safe as part of a neighbourhood policing campaign. He also revealed he'd visited towns across North Wales, including Llandudno. 'Over the last six months, I have been proactive in engaging with local communities to listen to concerns affecting them around ASB, including visits to Prestatyn, Llandudno, Llangefni, and Buckley,' said Mr Dunbobbin. 'In addition, I have also been out on patrol with officers in Holyhead and Deeside to understand how local police teams are tackling ASB and also joined a sergeant on patrol in Rhyl, during ASB Awareness week, to look at how they are implementing the Clear Hold Build approach to tackling ASB and low-level crime there.' He added: 'Analysis of ASB shows that incidents have reduced by 4.6% this year across North Wales compared to last year; low level behaviours continue to account for most events. Although recorded incidents have reduced, attendance has increased by 5%, and I hope this shows the level of policing commitment to victims of ASB.' The commissioner also revealed he had visited Rhosmeirch, Anglesey, in February, where police had put in place a 'community alert messaging system'. The crime commissioner's report also detailed £92,080.94 – increasing to £200K in 2025/26 – to fund various community schemes aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour, including the relaunch of a 'Summer Sports' project for young people during school holidays.
North Wales Live
02-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
'The smell in the town centre is pungent. People don't realise they're funding organised crime'
A police panel heard how residents in Ruthin complain of pungent cannabis smoke in the streets, with the drug blamed for financing serious, organised crime. Speaking at a North Wales Police and Crime Panel meeting, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin gave an update at Conwy 's Coed Pella HQ. The panel was updated on various police developments by the crime commissioner, which included Project Draig, a campaign 'raising awareness and capturing the response to SOC (serious and organised crime)'. But meeting chairwoman Patricia Astbury spoke on the subject and said she was 'frustrated' by cannabis users, whom she accused of funding serious and organised crime through drug use. Ms Astbury also used the streets of Ruthin as an example of how 'pungent' the smell of the drug is in some North Wales towns. 'I don't think communities out there really understand how this SOC (serious and organised crime) can impact upon our lives,' she said. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. 'It is Insidious, isn't it, what happens? And I listen, and I don't get why they don't understand how, for example, cannabis - the use of cannabis – that's all connected, isn't it? And that just seems to be an accepted part of life now, that you can go down a street, and you hear people in Ruthin saying the smell of cannabis is strong.' She added: 'I know local policing are doing something about that. They've just done an exercise in the south of the county, haven't they, where you started off in Ruthin, and that was one of the things people were saying. 'You walk up the streets and the smell is pungent.' And people just don't understand the impact when they are using cannabis, for example, that they are actually funding serious, organised crime eventually. I know it is a small thing, but I get cross sometimes. Why don't you understand what you're doing? It is frustrating.' Mr Dunbobbin responded: 'Not long after the results of the election last year, and I was spoken to by various media outlets. They said, 'What is your main priority for North Wales?' And my answer was serious, organised crime because everything else intrinsically links into that, with so many things, so many different strands. I know that is really much a priority of this force, with the chief constable there.' 'We've got Operation Draig (Project Draig), isn't it, chief? So there is a real emphasis on tackling that issue.'
Wales Online
02-07-2025
- Wales Online
'The smell in the town centre is pungent. People don't realise they're funding organised crime'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A police panel heard how residents in Ruthin complain of pungent cannabis smoke in the streets, with the drug blamed for financing serious, organised crime. Speaking at a North Wales Police and Crime Panel meeting, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin gave an update at Conwy 's Coed Pella HQ. The panel was updated on various police developments by the crime commissioner, which included Project Draig, a campaign 'raising awareness and capturing the response to SOC (serious and organised crime)'. But meeting chairwoman Patricia Astbury spoke on the subject and said she was 'frustrated' by cannabis users, whom she accused of funding serious and organised crime through drug use. Ms Astbury also used the streets of Ruthin as an example of how 'pungent' the smell of the drug is in some North Wales towns. 'I don't think communities out there really understand how this SOC (serious and organised crime) can impact upon our lives,' she said. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. 'It is Insidious, isn't it, what happens? And I listen, and I don't get why they don't understand how, for example, cannabis - the use of cannabis – that's all connected, isn't it? And that just seems to be an accepted part of life now, that you can go down a street, and you hear people in Ruthin saying the smell of cannabis is strong.' (Image: Andy Dunbobbin) She added: 'I know local policing are doing something about that. They've just done an exercise in the south of the county, haven't they, where you started off in Ruthin, and that was one of the things people were saying. 'You walk up the streets and the smell is pungent.' And people just don't understand the impact when they are using cannabis, for example, that they are actually funding serious, organised crime eventually. I know it is a small thing, but I get cross sometimes. Why don't you understand what you're doing? It is frustrating.' Mr Dunbobbin responded: 'Not long after the results of the election last year, and I was spoken to by various media outlets. They said, 'What is your main priority for North Wales?' And my answer was serious, organised crime because everything else intrinsically links into that, with so many things, so many different strands. I know that is really much a priority of this force, with the chief constable there.' 'We've got Operation Draig (Project Draig), isn't it, chief? So there is a real emphasis on tackling that issue.' Public notices in your area
