North Wales' Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, has scrutinised force performance across three main areas in a recent meeting.

The Strategic Executive Board meeting, which took place on October 30, was attended by Mr Dunbobbin and his team, along with the chief officers of North Wales Police.

The meeting focused on the force's performance relating to Operation Soteria, the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan, and road safety.

Operation Soteria is a Home Office-funded project aimed at increasing charging and conviction rates for rape and serious sexual offences.

The commissioner assessed the force's progress in implementing the National Operating Model and the six-pillar approach, which includes suspect-focused investigations, repeat suspects, procedural justice approach to victim engagement, learning development and officer and staff well-being, data and performance, and digital forensics.

Mr Dunbobbin said: "North Wales Police was an early adopter of Operation Soteria, and I wanted to get a full understanding of how the National Operating Model is being embedded in North Wales.

"Operation Soteria is critical in delivering real and sustained improvement and transformational change across the criminal justice system.

"Only by improving support for victims and ensuring more perpetrators are brought to justice will this be achieved.

"I will continually revisit the model and six-pillar approach to improve justice outcomes for victims of rape and serious sexual offences."

The PCC also reviewed the progress of the North Wales Police's VAWG Delivery Plan, which aims to protect women and girls from violence, pursue offenders, prevent offences, and prepare the police to continually improve the safety of women and girls across North Wales.

He said: "I scrutinised the force VAWG action plan.

"In February 2023, the Home Secretary included VAWG within the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR), which sets out the national threats to public safety.

"This means that North Wales Police's response to VAWG should be on a par with terrorism and serious and organised crime.

"Excellent work has been achieved in recent times in this area, but there is always plenty more to do; again, this area is one that I will keep under continual scrutiny."

Road safety was another key area of discussion.

The board examined data on killed and seriously injured incidents, types of fatal collisions, locations, and driver ages.

The enforcement of offences such as drink and drug driving, speeding, and mobile phone use was also scrutinised, as was the issue of off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters.

Mr Dunbobbin said: "North Wales has seen some significant reductions in the number of fatal casualties across the region, which have decreased by 19 per cent.

"I also heard about Operation Darwen, the all-Wales campaign which runs from early spring through until the autumn and is aimed at increasing awareness of motorcycle safety and reducing casualties on the roads.

"Another area I have received concern from the public is in relation to off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, and scooters.

"The police are developing ways to tackle when they are used for anti-social behaviour, an approach which I fully support."

Mr Dunbobbin assured residents that he would continue to monitor North Wales Police's performance closely.

He said: "The Strategic Executive Board provides me with the opportunity to scrutinise how the chief constable is performing in key areas, particularly those in my Police and Crime Plan.

"As PCC for North Wales, I want to again reassure the public that I will continue to scrutinise the force's performance and work closely with the chief constable to support the ongoing work."

Residents can find more information about the Strategic Executive Board and read minutes of past meetings on the OPCC website.