Police force failing to protect children - report

The safety of children was not checked and concerns were not recorded by police officers investigating incidents of domestic abuse, inspectors have found.

North Wales Police "needs to improve" its protection of vulnerable people, said HM Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer.

The force's PEEL report for 2023–2025 found, in one domestic incident involving a child being heard screaming, officers left the property without seeing the child and no details were recorded for a follow-up.

North Wales Police said safeguarding vulnerable people was a priority and measures had been put in place to improve.

"The force isn't doing enough analysis to fully understand its approach to vulnerable people," said Ms Skeer.

She added officers needed improve in their completing of risk assessments regarding domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence.

Children must also be listened to, she added, including observations of the behaviour of those unable to speak.

"Officers should record the child's details and comment on the child's lived experience," the report stated.

"We found examples of domestic abuse incidents where children were present but their details were missing or incomplete."

In one case, a neighbour reported a domestic abuse incident to the police, saying they heard a child screaming.

"Police attended the property, but the couple refused to allow officers in," the report said.

"So the officers didn't see the child and no details were recorded to allow effective safeguarding."

In a review of 246 domestic abuse-related incidents, inspectors found 146 cases where the victim refused to complete an assessment and officers failed to instead record their professional view of the risks posed, as required.

All domestic abuse reports are reviewed but, inspectors found, in about half of those cases reports were missing or had incomplete information.

They also found specialist child protection investigators had "unmanageable workloads" and high levels of stress.

"Some officers felt they weren't offering the quality of service they would wish to," the report said.

It added "not all officers were fully trained to carry out child protection investigations," which meant "accredited officers had larger, more complex caseloads".

Andy Dunbobbin, police and crime commissioner for north Wales, said the findings needed to be taken seriously.

"I have no doubt that the chief constable is already taking measures to address the issues raised and I look forward to seeing her plans to improve performance," he said.

"I know the chief constable, like me, takes the issue of violence against women and girls seriously and we are both committed to combatting it wherever it happens."

Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman added safeguarding was a "priority" for the force.

"We have already increased training to improve officers' understanding and recording of children's experiences," she said.

"We recognise the complexities that officers work with and we are committed to making sure that all vulnerable people, including children, are properly safeguarded."

The force added the report recorded strengths in several areas, saying it was one of the best in the country for crime recording, had clear priorities and treated people with respect.

The chief constable also said it was "reassuring" the force's crime recording had been rated "outstanding".