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North Wales Police — Inspection History

Published HMICFRS inspection reports for North Wales Police: grades, key findings and recommendations over time.

Back to North Wales Police

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently inspects police forces in England and Wales. This page collects the published inspection reports we have indexed for North Wales Police — for the latest PEEL assessment snapshot, see the current HMICFRS rating.

PEEL 2023–2025: An inspection of North Wales Police

2024-12-05 · peel report

This report provides findings from the HMICFRS assessment of North Wales Police. It evaluates the force's effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

A report into the effectiveness of vetting arrangements in North Wales Police

2023-06-16 · peel report

The report assesses the effectiveness of vetting arrangements within North Wales Police as part of a new approach to inspecting police forces. It emphasizes the importance of vetting in maintaining integrity and public confidence in the police.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Joint inspection of the multi-agency response to keeping children and young people safe in Denbighshire

2023-05-19 · thematic report

A joint inspection was carried out by multiple agencies including Care Inspectorate Wales and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. The report outlines the findings related to the multi-agency response to ensuring the safety of children and young people in Denbighshire.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL 2021/22 – An inspection of North Wales Police

2023-02-02 · peel report

This report presents the findings from the PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy) assessment of North Wales Police.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Report on an unannounced inspection visit to police custody suites in North Wales

2022-04-20 · force-specific report

This report details the findings from an inspection of North Wales Police custody facilities conducted in November 2021. The inspection evaluated the effectiveness of custody services, particularly with vulnerable individuals. Overall, it was noted that the force had made partial progress on previous recommendations, but several areas still require improvement.

Custody Services: requires improvement
Key findings (5)
  • The inspection assessed the effectiveness of custody services for detained individuals.
  • Focus was placed on the treatment of children and vulnerable adults in custody.
  • 15 of the 22 previous recommendations were fully or partially achieved.
  • Four new recommendations were made addressing main concerns.
  • 17 additional areas for improvement were highlighted in the report.
Recommendations (4)
  • Improve treatment of vulnerable individuals in custody.
  • Address shortcomings identified in the inspection process.
  • Enhance training for staff working in custody facilities.
  • Increase oversight on the implementation of prior recommendations.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales - National child protection inspection post-inspection review

2021-08-26 · thematic report

In July 2019, an inspection was conducted to assess how well North Wales Police protects children under 18. While the leadership was committed to protecting vulnerable individuals, significant improvements were required, leading to several recommendations. A follow-up review in March 2021 evaluated the force's progress.

Key findings (7)
  • The leadership is committed to child protection.
  • Improvements in child protection practices are necessary.
  • An action plan was developed by the force in response to recommendations.
  • Monitoring of improvement activities has been ongoing since the initial report.
  • The inspection involved reviewing policies and interviewing staff.
  • Domestic abuse and online abuse cases were sampled for assessment.
  • 34 child protection cases were audited for areas of improvement.
Recommendations (4)
  • Implement changes based on inspection feedback.
  • Enhance training for officers on child protection.
  • Increase resources dedicated to domestic abuse cases.
  • Regularly review and update child protection policies.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy 2018/19 – North Wales Police

2020-02-07 · peel report

PEEL is HMICFRS’s annual assessment of police forces in England and Wales. In 2018/19, an integrated approach was adopted, combining effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy inspections into a single report. This report details the findings for North Wales Police regarding their performance.

Effectiveness: GoodEfficiency: GoodLegitimacy: Good
Key findings (8)
  • The force has a strong understanding of its local communities and their needs.
  • Effective leadership contributes to the positive culture within the force.
  • The force has improved its response to serious incidents and demands.
  • Collaboration with local partners enhances the service provided to the public.
  • The force regularly reviews its performance to ensure continuous improvement.
  • Investment in training has led to increased officer confidence.
  • The use of technology supports operational effectiveness.
  • Robust strategies are in place to address identified areas for improvement.
Recommendations (8)
  • Increase community engagement initiatives to improve public confidence.
  • Enhance training programs to cover emerging crime trends.
  • Develop clearer lines of communication with local partners.
  • Implement regular assessments of operational effectiveness.
  • Focus on resources allocation to high-demand areas.
  • Prioritize mental health support for officers.
  • Expand use of data analytics for crime prevention.
  • Continue investing in new technologies for operational support.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales - National child protection inspection

2019-10-15 · thematic report

This inspection examined child protection in North Wales Police in July 2019 as part of a rolling programme of inspections of all police forces in England and Wales. Protecting children is a critical task for police, which includes investigating crimes, arresting offenders, and ensuring children's safety.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police effectiveness 2017 – North Wales Police

2018-03-22 · peel report

HMICFRS assessed the effectiveness of North Wales Police in keeping people safe and reducing crime, focusing on five key areas. The report highlights the force's performance in preventing crime, investigating offenses, protecting vulnerable individuals, addressing serious crime, and leveraging specialist capabilities.

Overall Effectiveness: Good
Key findings (5)
  • The force is effective at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behavior.
  • Investigation practices are robust but could be improved further to reduce re-offending.
  • Vulnerable individuals receive appropriate protection and support from the force.
  • The force effectively addresses serious and organized crime.
  • Specialist capabilities are well-developed and utilized effectively.
Recommendations (5)
  • Improve strategies for reducing re-offending rates.
  • Enhance community engagement to further prevent crime.
  • Strengthen training for officers dealing with vulnerable individuals.
  • Increase resources dedicated to tackling serious and organized crime.
  • Focus on expanding the capability of specialized units.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police legitimacy 2017 - North Wales Police

2017-12-12 · peel report

This inspection examined how North Wales Police treated individuals with fairness and respect, ensured ethical and lawful conduct among their workforce, and perceived fairness in treatment by the workforce. The report presents the findings related to legitimacy in policing for the region.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police efficiency 2017 - North Wales Police

2017-11-09 · peel report

This inspection examined how well North Wales Police understands the demand for its services, matches resources to that demand, and plans for future needs. It provides an assessment of their efficiency based on these metrics.

Overall Efficiency: Good
Key findings (5)
  • North Wales Police has a clear understanding of service demand.
  • Resources are appropriately matched to current demands.
  • The force is planning effectively for future demands.
  • Communication within the force about efficiency is strong.
  • Despite challenges, improvements are evident in service efficiency.
Recommendations (5)
  • Continue to improve data analysis for better resource allocation.
  • Enhance planning processes to adapt to changing demands.
  • Foster further community engagement to inform service delivery.
  • Explore additional training for staff on efficiency measures.
  • Regularly review and update efficiency strategies.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Abuse of position assessment - North Wales Police

2017-10-05 · thematic report

The HMICFRS reviewed plans and documentation from police forces regarding their capability to address potential abuse of position for sexual gain. The assessment specifically looked at North Wales Police's response to the recommendation made during the 2016 legitimacy inspections, which identified shortcomings in this area.

Key findings (4)
  • A national concern was identified regarding police forces' abilities to seek intelligence on potential abuse of position for sexual gain.
  • In 2017, HMICFRS reviewed the implementation plans from various forces concerning this issue.
  • North Wales Police received a letter outlining HMICFRS's assessment of their plan for addressing abuse of position.
  • The inspection aimed to ensure forces were capable of effective intelligence gathering regarding sexual abuse of position.
Recommendations (2)
  • All police forces should implement a plan to improve their capabilities in seeking intelligence on abuse of position for sexual gain.
  • Continuous assessment and updates to the plans are necessary as changes occur in the organization.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police effectiveness 2016 – North Wales Police

2017-03-02 · peel report

As part of the annual inspections of police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy (PEEL), this report assesses how effective North Wales Police is at keeping people safe and reducing crime. The inspection focused on five key areas of policing effectiveness.

Overall Effectiveness: Good
Key findings (5)
  • The force is effective at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour.
  • Investigations into crime are conducted effectively, and the force reduces re-offending.
  • The force protects vulnerable individuals from harm and supports victims well.
  • Serious and organised crime is tackled effectively by the force.
  • Specialist capabilities of the force are well-developed.
Recommendations (5)
  • Enhance strategies for preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
  • Improve the efficiency of investigations to ensure timely resolutions.
  • Strengthen support mechanisms for vulnerable individuals.
  • Focus on resources allocated for tackling serious and organised crime.
  • Increase training on specialist capabilities for officers.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Best Use of Stop and Search revisit – North Wales Police

2017-02-02 · thematic report

This publication evaluates the compliance of North Wales Police with the Best Use of Stop and Search (BUSS) scheme after a prior inspection revealed deficiencies. The revisit assesses improvements made and ongoing compliance with the scheme's guidance.

Compliance with the BUSS scheme: requires improvement
Key findings (5)
  • North Wales Police was not fully compliant with the BUSS scheme during the last inspection.
  • The revisit aimed to assess improvements in compliance following a 2015 inspection.
  • Only 11 out of 43 forces were complying with all features of the scheme at the time of the 2015 inspection.
  • Community involvement and transparency are key focuses of the BUSS scheme.
  • Monitoring the impact of stop and search on ethnic minorities is highlighted as an important area.
Recommendations (4)
  • Enhance training and oversight for officers regarding the BUSS scheme.
  • Increase community engagement to improve transparency in stop and search procedures.
  • Implement regular reviews to monitor compliance with the scheme.
  • Improve data recording processes regarding stop and search incidents.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police legitimacy 2016 - North Wales Police

2016-12-08 · peel report

This inspection evaluated how North Wales Police treats people with fairness and respect, ensures its workforce acts ethically and lawfully, and assesses how the workforce feels treated. The report also includes an assessment of legitimacy on a national level.

Overall Legitimacy: Good
Key findings (6)
  • The force treats people with fairness and respect in its operations.
  • Workforces feel supported and treated ethically by their leaders.
  • There is a consistent commitment to ensure ethical practices throughout the force.
  • The force has implemented key measures to address areas of concern in previous reports.
  • Community engagement has improved trust and confidence in police services.
  • The integrity of officers is regularly assessed and monitored.
Recommendations (4)
  • Enhance training programs focused on ethical standards for all officers.
  • Implement regular reviews of community engagement strategies.
  • Strengthen mechanisms for officers to report unethical practices.
  • Increase transparency in sourcing and handling of complaints against officers.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

PEEL: police efficiency 2016 - North Wales Police

2016-11-03 · peel report

This inspection assessed how well North Wales Police understands the demand for its services and how efficiently it matches its resources to that demand. The report also highlights overarching themes from national efficiency assessments.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales, Rape Monitoring Group digest - 2015/16

2016-10-13 · other report

This publication provides local area digests on how rape is dealt with in North Wales, compiling data from various sources including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police effectiveness 2015 – North Wales Police

2016-02-18 · peel report

This inspection assessed how effective North Wales Police is at keeping people safe and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour as part of HMIC's annual PEEL inspections. It focused on crime prevention, investigations, protection of vulnerable individuals, and tackling serious crime.

Overall Effectiveness: Good
Key findings (8)
  • The force is effective at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.
  • Investigations are often inadequate and need improvement.
  • Support for vulnerable people is strong, although further refinements are needed.
  • The management of offenders is handled effectively.
  • Response times to emergencies are satisfactory.
  • The force engages well with its communities to assess local needs.
  • Information sharing with partner agencies is improving.
  • Resource management is generally effective.
Recommendations (8)
  • Improve the quality of investigations to ensure justice is achieved.
  • Enhance support systems for vulnerable individuals.
  • Increase community engagement initiatives to foster trust.
  • Strengthen information sharing protocols with partner organizations.
  • Regular training sessions for officers on crime investigation best practices.
  • Monitor response times and establish benchmarks for improvement.
  • Develop more robust strategies for managing serious crime.
  • Conduct regular reviews of resource allocations.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police legitimacy 2015 – North Wales Police

2016-02-11 · peel report

As part of its annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL), HMIC’s legitimacy programme assessed how legitimate the force is at keeping people safe and reducing crime.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Police effectiveness 2015 (Vulnerability) – North Wales Police

2015-12-15 · peel report

As part of its annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL), HMIC’s effectiveness programme assessed how well forces keep people safe and reduce crime. This inspection examined the effectiveness of forces at protecting vulnerable individuals and supporting victims, focusing on their response to missing children and domestic abuse.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – North Wales Police

2015-11-12 · thematic report

This report reviews the quality of criminal case files focusing on the identification of victim and witness vulnerability by the police. It indicates that victims and witnesses may struggle to attend court if their vulnerabilities are not adequately recognized and documented. The report highlights the necessity for police to provide accurate information regarding the circumstances of cases to meet the needs of vulnerable individuals.

Key findings (6)
  • The police and CPS have complementary roles in the criminal justice system.
  • Accurate identification of vulnerabilities is essential for victims and witnesses.
  • Inconsistent approaches to managing criminal case files affect vulnerable individuals.
  • The report examines the quality of information provided by the police in case files.
  • Effective risk management is crucial for supporting vulnerable witnesses.
  • Increased training is required for police officers in recognizing vulnerabilities.
Recommendations (6)
  • Enhance training programs for police on identifying vulnerabilities.
  • Implement standard procedures for documenting vulnerability in case files.
  • Increase collaboration between police and CPS to ensure consistency.
  • Foster a culture of accountability regarding victim and witness support.
  • Conduct regular audits of case file quality.
  • Promote awareness of the needs of vulnerable individuals in the justice system.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales - Joint inspection of police custody suites

2015-05-12 · thematic report

This report is one of a series on police custody inspections carried out jointly by HMI Prisons and HMIC. The inspections look at strategy, treatment and conditions, individual rights and health care. They also contribute to the United Kingdom’s response to its international obligation to ensure regular and independent inspection of all places of detention.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales – Response to the funding challenge

2013-07-18 · thematic report

This report assesses the responses of North Wales Police to the funding challenges announced by the Government, following a significant reduction in central funding from March 2011 to March 2015. It highlights the measures taken by the police force to make the necessary savings as part of HMIC's Valuing the Police Programme.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales – Revisiting police relationships: progress report

2012-12-18 · thematic report

This report revisits the findings from 2011's _Without Fear or Favour_, examining police relationships with the media and others. While some progress has been made in addressing integrity concerns, the report emphasizes that more work is necessary to prevent undue influence and abuses of power.

Key findings (3)
  • The revisit found no evidence of endemic corruption in police relationships.
  • Forces have made progress in implementing processes to manage threats to integrity.
  • More improvements are needed in police interactions with the media and other parties.
Recommendations (3)
  • Continue to refine processes and policies around police relationships.
  • Enhance training for police on media interactions to ensure integrity.
  • Increase transparency in police dealings with external entities.
Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales, Preparing for police and crime commissioners

2012-07-27 · thematic report

This report assesses how police authorities in North Wales are preparing for the transition to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) ahead of the elections on 15 November 2012. It details their transition plans and findings from the assessment conducted in early summer 2012.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales, Policing in austerity: One year on

2012-07-02 · thematic report

This report evaluates how North Wales police have responded to a 20% reduction in funding over four years, as announced by the government in October 2010. The report revisits the initial findings of a 2011 inspection to assess progress and impacts on public service.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales, anti-social behaviour inspection report, 2012

2012-06-21 · peel report

In Spring 2010, a review was conducted to assess how the police can effectively tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). This report details the findings from a subsequent inspection in 2012 to evaluate progress made since the original review.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales – Review of police crime and incident reports – 2012

2012-01-25 · thematic report

This report looks at the quality of crime and incident data, and the arrangements in place to ensure standards are maintained and improved across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales – value for money profile – most similar group

2011-08-01 · thematic report

This thematic report evaluates the value for money profile of North Wales Police in comparison to similar forces. It provides insights into resource allocation and effectiveness.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales, Valuing the Police preparedness inspection

2011-07-21 · thematic report

This inspection evaluates the preparedness of North Wales Police in delivering effective policing services. The report highlights key findings related to resource management and operational readiness.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Gogledd Cymru, Arolygiad o Baratoi i Sicrhau Gwerth am Arian

2011-07-21 · thematic report

This publication presents an inspection report focused on ensuring value for money within the North Wales police force. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of preparedness in delivering effective policing services.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales - Joint inspection of police custody suites

2011-01-17 · force-specific report

This report evaluates the police custody suites in North Wales, highlighting key findings from the joint inspection process. The inspection concluded with several areas noted for improvement and compliance requirements in custody practices.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales Anti-social behaviour inspection

2010-09-22 · thematic report

This inspection report focuses on anti-social behavior in North Wales, assessing police responses and strategies for managing such cases. The findings aim to inform improvements in practice and policy within the force.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

Gogledd Cymru, Adroddiad Arolwg Ymddygiad Gwrthgymdeithasol

2010-09-22 · thematic report

This is a thematic report on anti-social behaviour in North Wales. It evaluates the effectiveness of police responses and community safety measures to tackle such issues.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales Policing pledge

2009-10-12 · peel report

This inspection report assesses the policing pledge in North Wales, highlighting how effectively the force meets its commitments. The report indicates areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales Phase 1

2007-09-29 · baseline report

This publication is a baseline assessment for the North Wales police force. It evaluates various aspects of the force's performance as of the publication date.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales Police National Computer compliance audit

2007-09-29 · national report

This report evaluates the compliance of North Wales Police with national computer standards. The audit reveals areas for improvement in adherence to protocols.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales Baseline Assessment 2005

2005-09-29 · baseline report

The North Wales Baseline Assessment 2005 evaluates the effectiveness of the police force in North Wales, highlighting key areas for improvement and overall performance metrics. The report provides insights into the operational status of the force and presents a framework for assessing future developments.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk

North Wales, Western Basic Command Unit inspection

2005-02-28 · force-specific report

This inspection report evaluates the North Wales Western Basic Command Unit. The findings address various aspects of performance and areas for potential improvement.

Full report on hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk
Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 19 July 2026 · Next review due: 19 January 2027

Source: HMICFRS · Crown copyright, summarised under the Open Government Licence v3.0 · Archive indexed 2026-07-19. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with HMICFRS.