Gwynedd

The Policing Service in Gwynedd

The county is overseen by Peter Gaffey (the County Chief Inspector), Mark Armstrong (Inspector for Dwyfor and Meirionnydd) and Lisa Jones (Inspector for Arfon). For more information about your local policing team click here. For more information on crime rates see www.police.uk or the North Wales Performance Summary which provides a monthly summary of policing performance, including on a county level.

In Gwynedd at present there are 15 police stations: Abersoch, Bala, Bangor, Barmouth, Bethesda, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Caernarfon, Dolgellau, Llanberis, Nefyn, Penrhyndeudraeth, Penygroes, Pwllheli, Porthmadog and Tywyn.

Caernarfon  Police Station / Response Hub

The police station in Caernarfon currently is a base for approximately 120 staff including the response team , some local policing staff, CID, public protection and other police personnel. The station also has a custody suite which has recently been extended to increase the number of cells. The station has a front counter service which is open from 8am to 6pm, seven days per week.

The station in Caernarfon is located in a residential area in Maesincla and comprises of three buildings, with varying age and suitability. It has been identified that in the longer term some redevelopment will be required on parts of the police station in Caernarfon to improve its efficiency for the future – predominantly the large office building which was built in the 1950s.

Dolgellau  Police Station / Response Hub

Approximately 60 staff are based from the police station in Dolgellau. The staff include the response team, CID, public protection and other police personnel. The station also has a custody suite. The station has a front counter service which is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The station in Dolgellau is located near the centre of the town and is a large 1970s concrete building. Some work will be required in the future to modernise parts of the station to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. 

Porthmadog Police Station / Response Hub

The police station in Porthmadog currently is a base for approximately 40 staff including the Response team, some local policing staff, CID, public protection and other police personnel. The station does not provide a front counter service.

The station in Porthmadog is a modern detached station and there are no plans to change the arrangements in Porthmadog. 

Abersoch

The police station in Abersoch currently has a local policing team of five based from the building for the area. There is no front counter facility at this station,

Abersoch has been identified as requiring further review, although there are no set plans or timelines for when this work will commence.  The review has found that the building is relatively fit for purpose, and the location is operationally essential. We would welcome suggestions from the community for potential alternatives.

Bala

The police station in Bala is  a base for two local policing staff for the area. The station does not offer a front counter service. The station is not fully staffed and the space is poorly used. The review has found that the building is not fit for purpose. However the review has recognised that due to the distance between the Bala area and other stations it is an operationally important station. Therefore we would be looking towards relocating the station in the Bala area to a more suitable building. It is important to note that until a suitable alternative is found the current station in Bala will remain open.

In terms of relocating the policing service in Bala our preferred option at present is to work with the Council as part of the redevelopment of the school, library and other services in the town. This work is expected to take a number of years and will be dependent on several factors. Views on this suggestion or alternative suggestions would be welcomed from the community in Bala.

Bangor

Currently there are 37 staff who are based from the police station in Bangor.  This includes the local policing team as well as other police personnel. The station has a front counter service which is open from 9:30am to 5pm, seven days per week.

The station in Bangor is located near the centre of the town and the review has recognised that the station is fit for purpose and operationally essential. There are no plans to change the station in Bangor.

Barmouth

The police station in Barmouth is the base for four staff from the local policing team for the area. The station does not offer a front counter service.

Barmouth has been identified as requiring further review, although there are no set plans or timelines for when this work will commence.  The review has found that the building is not fit for purpose, but the location is relatively operationally important. We would welcome suggestions from the community for potential alternatives.

Bethesda

The police station in Bethesda is a base for three staff from the local policing team for the area. The station does not offer a front counter service. The station is not fully staffed and the space is poorly used. The review has found that the building is not fit for purpose.

Prior to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review a new build in Bethesda was planned; however, due to the significant change in the financial landscape this is no longer a viable or cost effective option for us to pursue.

We would be looking towards relocating the station in Bethesda to a more suitable building. It is important to note that until a suitable alternative is found the current station in Bethesda will remain open.

In terms of relocating the policing service in Bethesda we have looked at several options and as yet we do not have a preferred option for the area. Options being considered are: using space within the leisure centre; the community hall; the library; or part of a community project to develop some areas of the high street. If the community in Bethesda would like to provide us with their views on these suggestion or alternative suggestions we would welcome them.

Blaenau Ffestiniog

There are 12 staff who are based from the police station in Blaenau Ffestiniog, amongst which there are members of the local policing team and other police personnel. The station does not offer a front counter service.

The station in Blaenau Ffestiniog is located near the centre of the town and the review has recognised that the station is fit for purpose and operationally essential.

Llanberis

The police station in Llanberis is a base for  four staff from the local policing team for the area. The station does not offer a front counter service.

Llanberis has been identified as requiring further review, although there are no set plans or timelines for when this work will commence.  The review has found that the building is not fit for purpose, but is operationally essential. We would welcome suggestions from the community for potential alternatives.

Nefyn

The police station in Nefyn is a base for five staff from the local policing team for the area. The station does not offer a front counter service. The station is not fully staffed and the space is poorly used. The review has found that the building is fit for purpose as it is a relatively new development.

The proposal is to collocate the police station within the new fire station on Nefyn Business Park. It is important to note that until the new fire and police station is built and opened in 2013 the current station in Nefyn will remain open.

The current station will be sold when the new station has been commissioned.

Penrhyndeudraeth

The police station in Penrhyndeudraeth does not have any police personnel working from the building on a regular basis. The station does not offer a front counter service. The station is not fully staffed and the space is poorly used. The review has found that the building is not fit for purpose and due to the relative close proximity to a larger station which would enable the level of service provided to the community to be maintained, the review recommends the closure of the station.

It is important that we are clear that the only change that is proposed to the service provided in this area is the building, and policing numbers in the area would not be affected by the closure of the building.

However we are keen to hear the views of the public on potential alternative locations that the neighbourhood policing team could work from, whether it be a meeting room to hold surgeries or other suggestions. One option that we have already explored is the use of the Snowdonia National Park Offices and we would welcome your views on this.

Penygroes

The police station in Penygroes is a base for five staff which includes members of the local policing team.  The station is also used as a training venue. The station does not provide a front counter.

The station in Penygroes is new and there are no plans to change the arrangements for the police station in Penygroes.

Pwllheli

Currently there are 16 staff that are based from the police station in Pwllheli.  The figure includes members of the local policing team as well as other police personnel. The station does not provide a front counter service.

The station in Pwllheli has been highlighted as operationally important; however, due to the age of the building it has been highlighted as not being appropriate accommodation for the longer term. The need to redevelop the station in the near future has been highlighted and this may mean looking towards an alternative building in Pwllheli, either shared accommodation with other agencies such as the Fire Service or another alternative that would provide a suitable police station for the area.   Although these plans are for the longer term we would welcome suggestions from other organisations who are also planning to develop sites in Pwllheli or who may have a suitable building for the police station so we can fully explore the possibility of a shared location.

Tywyn

The police station in Tywyn is a base for three members of staff from the local policing team for that area. There is no front counter service at this station.

Tywyn has been identified as requiring further review and when this work is undertaken we will be considering the option of co-location with the Fire Service.  The review has found that the building is relatively fit for purpose although not ideal, but the location is operationally essential. We would welcome suggestions from the community for potential alternatives.

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