North Wales Police and Police Authority in collaboration with Cheshire Constabulary and Authority, want to hear what you think about race equality in order to inform the development of Race Equality Schemes.  If you live or work in Cheshire or North Wales, please spend a few moments answering the following questions.  Once completed please return by e-mail to:-  Elizabeth.Ward@nthwales.pnn.police.uk

Promoting the involvement of the public in decisions about local policing is central to the work of the North Wales Police Authority.

We are committed to providing a range of opportunities to consult with the public. We want to enable local people to have a greater level of involvement in the process of making local policing decisions and identifying solutions.

We use a range of different consultation and communication methods, including public meetings – these are called ‘Police Authority Community Forums of which 13 are held throughout the year in different locations across North Wales,a Citizens’ Panel, surveys and through our Website. Sometimes, we will want views on specific subjects, such as what kind of budget rise Council Tax payers would be willing to support.

There are a number of ways in which you can get involved in the work of North Wales Police Authority. We value opportunities to talk with you and listen to your views.

Consultation helps the Authority to:

- Find out your views in respect of the Police - what are your concerns, what the Police do well and not so well, how you can influence policy making.

- Inform people - through consultation we can update you on local initiatives, provide an insight into how policing is undertaken in your area and enable you to influence local policing priorities and targets.

- Work closely with other organisations - the public can help to pinpoint other local concerns and issues in additional to concerns about crime and suggest local solutions to local problems.

Despite our efforts to listen to as many people in the community as possible, we are aware that there are still groups within the general public who we rarely reach. It is important that the Authority endeavours to reach as wide representation of the public to ensure North Wales is policed effectively and as far as possible according to the needs of the people who live, work and visit here.

A new post was created within the Authority to ensure that consultation is central to our work. We now have a full time Community Engagement Co-ordinator who is dedicated to implementing our Consultation Strategy as well as building upon the structures currently in place to consult with local people.

Our Community Engagement Co-ordinator is working closely with the Police Force and other partners to promote community engagement within policing. He would also welcome your views on policing issues.

“Llais-y-Gogledd” (Voice of the North),is an exciting development in the Authority’s consultation process and is a Citizens Panel of 1,500 people representing a cross-section of the public of North Wales. The Panel, recruited by an independent market research company, will be consulted on a periodic basis about policing in the North Wales area by means of questionnaires. During the Autumn of 2006 issues such as policing priorities, community reassurance and police funding featured in the first survey. The views fed back from the survey assisted the Police Authority and the North Wales force in preparing their policing plan for 2007/8.

Citizen Panels have been successfully used by other police forces and Authorities as consultation forums and it is intended that “Llais-y-Gogledd” becomes an influential addition to the North Wales Police Authority’s annual consultation arrangements.

The third survey has been completed.
The following documents supplied by Swift Research Ltd are available: