March 04, 2026 - 188 views
North Wales Police has been told it is back on track in the fight against serious organised crime after a national watchdog formally lifted concerns raised two years ago.
In 2022–23, inspectors from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reviewed how forces across the north west were tackling serious organised crime — offences such as large-scale drug supply, human trafficking, exploitation and complex fraud.
At the time, the inspectorate said there were weaknesses in the regional response and raised a “cause for concern” about North Wales Police. Inspectors found the force needed to make sure it had enough people and resources focused on organised crime and that officers and staff fully understood how much of a priority it should be.
This week, Chief Inspector of Constabulary Kathryn Stone confirmed that the concerns relating to North Wales have now been closed.
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman welcomed the decision, saying it reflected the work carried out since the original report.
After the criticism, the force reviewed how it identifies and tracks organised crime groups operating in or affecting North Wales. It increased the number of analysts studying intelligence to spot new and emerging threats earlier. It also changed the way cases are managed and investigated and introduced clearer systems for learning lessons and sharing good practice.
In simple terms, the force has put more people and better systems behind its efforts to disrupt drug networks, exploitation gangs and cross-border criminal groups.
Serious organised crime rarely stays within one area. North Wales works alongside forces in the wider north west region, including Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, as criminals often operate across police boundaries.
Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said tackling organised crime was made a key priority in his Police and Crime Plan following his re-election. He said the original inspection had highlighted concerns about resources and awareness within the force, but that inspectors were now satisfied that improvements had been made.
Among the changes recognised were a stronger understanding across the workforce that serious organised crime is a top priority, more analytical capacity to understand threats, and a revised resourcing model to improve how cases are identified and investigated.
While the lifting of the concern marks a significant step, both the Chief Constable and the Commissioner stressed that the fight against organised crime is ongoing. Nationally, organised crime is estimated to cost the UK economy tens of billions of pounds each year and is linked to violence, exploitation and community harm.
The force says it will continue working with regional partners to target organised crime groups operating in and beyond North Wales, with the aim of preventing harm and protecting communities across the region.
