Policing priorities in North Wales should reflect the diversity of the needs of North Wales.

Full statement

I live in Mold, in the east of North Wales but I will be a Police and Crime Commissioner for all of Flintshire, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

Rural crime is an issue for North Wales and should be a focus but two other issues I will prioritise are issues for all of us across Wales.

The first of those issues is violent crime that affects women and girls. As your Police and Crime Commissioner I will put in place community safety projects and set it as a Police priority to make women and girls feel safer across our communities. Women should feel safe inside their homes and out on the town, and every girl should grow up without fear that their gender puts them at risk.

It is not acceptable that prosecution rates are as low as they are and that women do not feel able to see cases through to a conclusion. The Police and Crime Commissioner has a vital role and a duty to make North Wales feel and be safe for women and girls across the region.

My other priority issue is that too many people in our community are affected by cybercrime. Scams and breaches make the news but we too often forget the people behind the keyboards. With a professional background in Data Protection I am well placed to guide priorities in this area and I will put in place schemes to help prevent these crimes and to support victims of them.

Every Liberal Democrat vote in this election is a vote to push these priorities forward.

Address prepared by Michael O’Carroll (Agent), at The Temperance Hall, Tallarn Green, Malpas, SY14 7LL.