North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner candidates on what they would do

Police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections are taking place in Wales today. There are four candidates fighting to become the commissioner the North Wales Police force area.

The role of a PCC is to make sure that the local police in their area is meeting the needs of the community as well as cutting crime and delivering an effective and efficient police service within their police force area.

They are elected by the public to hold chief constables and the police force to account on their behalf. They are paid £73,300 and serve a four-year term.

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There are 39 police areas across England and Wales with a PCC, and four across Wales. Labour's Andy Dunbobbin has been the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner since the 2021 election and he is seeking re-election. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

The North Wales candidates

We've asked each candidate to respond to a series of questions and they will be provided here as they are submitted.

Andy Dunbobbin - Labour

I'm Andy Dunbobbin. I'm 49 and married with two children. My family has always lived across the breadth of north Wales this is my home. I have worked in a number of different sectors, including retail, manufacturing and technology. I've spent time as an outreach worker and I've been a kinship carer.

Seeing the need in my community for security, prosperity and for a government with their interests at heart is what drove me to get involved in local politics as a community councillor.

I'm proud to be the current chair of policing in Wales, and the current police and crime commissioner for north Wales. I am seeking re-election on May 2.

The role of commissioner is described as being to be the voice of the people in policing and to hold the force's chief constable to account - do you think that has been happening effectively?

It is absolutely right that people and organisations in power need to have the appropriate checks and balances to hold them accountable to those they represent in their communities. I have been doing that week in, week out, as police and crime commissioner for north Wales.

I regularly meet with the chief constable of North Wales Police, Amanda Blakeman, and hold her to account for policing in the area. I meet quarterly with my strategic executive board to ensure clear communication and aligned priorities. I rigorously scrutinise police performance against the priorities I outlined in November 2021 in my north Wales police and crime plan.

I believe the work I have undertaken has led to improvements in North Wales Police's performance.

What issues do you think have been and will be the most important for the people of the force area and what would you seek to ensure the force does to respond to those issues?

Policing currently faces immense scrutiny, and rightly so. Police officers hold positions of power in our local communities and should be held to high standards. I see my role as police and crime commissioner as part of that scrutiny.

In order to serve our communities effectively, there has to be a focus on building trust and confidence in our police force, so that neighbourhoods feel like they can depend on the police to support them when they are in need. Neighbourhood policing is my top priority, focusing just as much on the prevention of crime as to the responding to it.

Why do you think the role is important?

It has been my honour to serve the people of north Wales as police and crime commissioner for the last three years, an honour I wish to continue to hold. I have seen first-hand the importance of this role to be a listening ear to those who need it, to be a voice to the voiceless and to take action against injustice.

Personal circumstances led to me entering public life all those years ago, and I strongly feel a vocational calling to serve the people of north Wales. If re-elected on May 2, I will continue to put the people of north Wales first in all that I do.

Brian Jones - Welsh Conservatives

My name is Brian Jones and I was born in Rhyl on Christmas Day 1956. I live locally with my Wife of twenty- five years, and we have been blessed with two daughters who were educated through the medium of Welsh. After spending a number of years travelling around the UK and European Automotive Industry as a sales executive, I established my own design and manufacturing company in January 2004 in my hometown of Rhyl. I was the managing director before my career change to politics in June 2015, when I was elected as member of Denbighshire County Council. I went on to become a cabinet member from June 2017 until May 2022.

The skills and knowledge I picked up in business and politics are highly transferable and will provide a solid foundation for the role of north Wales police and crime commissioner.

The role of commissioner is described as being to be the voice of the people in policing and to hold the force's chief constable to account - do you think that has been happening effectively?

The framework to allow the force to be held effectively to account is firmly in place. The role of police and crime commissioner is supported by the office of the police and crime commissioner which involves staff working to support, monitor and scrutinise the police. In my opinion, this helps to foster a positive and healthy relationship between the police and crime commissioner and the chief constable. There is also the police and crime panel to add to the framework. With all this is place, there should be no valid reason for effective scrutiny to fail. However, my ambition would be to build on this relationship and develop even stronger links. I would also seek provide more opportunity for members of the public to have their say.

What issues do you think have been and will be the most important for the people of the force area and what would you seek to ensure the force does to respond to those issues?

The people of north Wales want to see more community policing, a safer environment for their family and friends and a stronger bond with the police force in general. High visibility policing on our streets would be a step in the right direction. An increased presence around schools and in public places would help control anti-social behaviour, which is a serious concern. I would champion a crackdown on rural crime. Increased use of technology, particularly drone surveillance, would help in the detection of criminals stealing equipment and livestock from farms. Drugs blight lives and I would continue the fight against county lines gangs in North Wales. I would also campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse, including coercive behaviour.

Why do you think the role is important?

As the vital link between police officers and the public, the role of police and crime commissioner is very important. It provides the vehicle for the police and the people to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding towards each other. It is the Commissioner's job to hold the force to account and make sure that when it comes to how our streets are policed, the voices of residents are heard. If I was elected as police and crime commissioner, my priority would be to have a real presence in our communities, to be approachable and make sure the safety of residents comes first.

Richard Marbrow - Liberal Democrat

Born in Swansea half a century ago, I've worked in politics including for MPs and MEPs, for a privacy regulator, in the fashion industry and now I work in the travel and hospitality sector as a data protection officer. I live in the centre of Mold with a giant cat for company.

The role of commissioner is described as being to be the voice of the people in policing and to hold the force's chief constable to account - do you think that has been happening effectively?

I've met the current commissioner and I have no doubt his heart is in the right place on this but I worry that across the country and the region, few people have heard of their Police and Crime Commissioner and fewer still know what they do. I don't think the commissioner can be the voice of the people if the people don't know who they are and that hampers effectiveness in holding the chief constable to account. North Wales is fortunate to have a good chief constable but you always need some form of democratic accountability to hold their feet to the fire. The commissioner also needs to make sure that where the chief constable isn't accountable because something is out of their control, for example court delays, that they make clear who is accountable and work to help the chief constable. Then if the chief has the tools they need they can be held to account better for the choices they make and the results they achieve.

What issues do you think have been and will be the most important for the people of the force area and what would you seek to ensure the force does to respond to those issues?

Visibility of the police is always an important issue but 'bobbies on the beat' is a simplistic catchphrase. Visibility needs the police to be where people are and that includes schools, community meetings and so on to make sure that two way communication between the police and the public is maintained. The issues I am campaigning on specifically are the issues of violence against women and girls where I think we need to do more as a society and as a police force to make sure that women feel safe, whether that is out and about or in their own homes. Domestic violence is a stain on our society and should be tackled as hard as other crimes. That means women feeling safe to report it and to expect a response. I also think cybercrime needs more attention as it climbs. A quick crime with devastating consequences for people, I have a real concern that vulnerable groups (who the cybercriminals target) are losing out due to a lack of awareness of the scale of the problem. Cybercrime is crime and the Police have a role to play in preventing and detecting it.

Why do you think the role is important?

I get this question a lot and it worries me. The way that we are policed and the outcomes that the police achieve are important to everyone in our community. The police and crime commissioner is a very public part of that system and if they do their job right it enables the Police to do more and better things. Setting the budget and priorities may not involve catching criminals but they make it possible for the Police to do their job and so the commissioner is a role that should be done right and with the full effort of any individual lucky enough to represent the whole of north Wales. People ask me why I am involved in politics and why I run for election. I do it to make a difference. To make things better for people. To bring change where change is needed. Elected officials have the power to do those things and that makes them important.

Ann Griffith - Plaid Cymru

Appointed by Arfon Jones as his Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, I was responsible for Children and Young People, Modern Slavery, Domestic Abuse, Women and justice, Professional standards and Anti-corruption.

I’ve worked for 40 years as a professional social worker/social work manager across north Wales in the public and voluntary sector with all vulnerable groups. I have worked alongside the police and the wider criminal justice system to support victims of crime.

Victims of crime explain to me they feel unsupported and let down. My life experience, knowledge, skills and values mean I understand and commit to improving the criminal justice system for all.

If you elect me I will focus on preventing crime and re-offending by increasing police visibility and accessibility, early intervention and deterrence and the use of innovative problem-solving initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour.

I will closely scrutinise the police response to violence, coercive control and stalking towards women and girls, the criminal and sexual exploitation of children and vulnerable adults and serious and organised crime.

I’m currently an independent child protection consultant and executive coach and teach leadership to senior social care managers.

My leadership experience and track record of independence equips me to hold the Chief Constable to account, make North Wales Police more effective and efficient and ensure our rural and urban communities are safe to thrive, she told the Choose My PCC site.

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