Police statement regarding misleading news headlines

We are aware of articles published yesterday (Weds 5 Feb) on the North Wales Live website, as well as Mail Online with misleading headlines suggesting that North Wales Police has refused to return a victim’s mobile phone due to GDPR.

North Wales Police does not withhold a victim’s property due to any implied “GDPR rights of a suspect”.

Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison said: “It is standard practice for police to retain evidential exhibits until the conclusion of a trial, should they be required in court. North Wales Police had been in communication with the victim throughout this process, applying to the court for compensation for the victim due to the irretrievable nature of the data and pictures lost from the device due to the offender accessing it.

"I congratulate the investigation team for their diligent work in bringing this criminal to justice, and acknowledge the strong sentence given by the judge in this case."