July 06, 2026 - 203 views
Rural crime and how quickly officers respond to calls for service were placed under the spotlight at the latest Strategic Executive Board meeting, where the work of North Wales Police was examined in detail by the Andy Dunbobbin.
At the meeting, the Commissioner met with senior officers, including Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, to review overall Force performance against priorities in the Police and Crime Plan. The discussion covered finance, resourcing, risk management, estates, and national policing requirements, including counter-terrorism, serious organised crime, cyber threats and public disorder preparedness.
Two key “deep dive” areas formed the focus of scrutiny. The first was rural and wildlife crime, where members were updated on how specialist teams work with regional and national partners to tackle offences affecting farming and rural communities. The meeting also reviewed prevention work, investigative resourcing and efforts to improve public confidence in reporting crime across remote areas.
The second focus was police responsiveness, with attention on the Force Control Centre and how emergency and non-emergency calls are handled. Performance around 999 and 101 call response times was examined, alongside how officers manage risk and prioritise incidents. The Force also outlined how it supports callers with specific communication needs, including Welsh language speakers and those with hearing difficulties.
Updates were also provided on the Strategic Policing Requirement and the “Right Care, Right Person” approach, which ensures vulnerable people receive support from the most appropriate agency, particularly in mental health-related incidents.
Following the meeting, PCC Andy Dunbobbin said he continues to use the board to hold the Chief Constable to account and scrutinise performance. He highlighted the importance of rural policing in North Wales and said engagement with farming communities remains a key priority, alongside ongoing improvements in call handling and response times.
Members of the public can view further details and minutes of the Strategic Executive Board here.
