Everyone has the right to feel safe

Statement by Chief Constable Carl Foulkes:

None of us can have failed to have been moved by the news this week of the disappearance of Sarah Everard a young woman who was making her way home on her own from a friend’s house in London. My heartfelt thoughts are with her family and loved ones.

It has brought into sharp focus the fact that everyone, wherever they are, should be able to live, work and walk our streets without fear of harassment, abuse or violence. We absolutely want anyone to report any concerns about behaviour in complete confidence that the police will deal with that concern.

Thankfully incidents like this are rare, particularly in North Wales, but this doesn’t mean that we won’t take reports of suspicious behaviour seriously. Tackling abuse and violence in all its forms is a priority for us. We are absolutely committed to doing all we can to prevent this and to prosecute those who commit or attempt to commit such offences.

Everyone has a right to feel safe and we will do our utmost to make sure that this is the case.

I would encourage anyone who has concerns about suspicious behaviour to call us on 101, or 999 if they feel in danger. If you have concerns that are not urgent then please use our online chat facilities.

Your contact, information and call would help us target patrols to areas, it might provide another piece to an existing case, it will ultimately help us to keep your community safe.

Please do not think that your call won’t be taken seriously I can assure you that it will.