Tree planted to commemorate 50th anniversary of North Wales Police

A silver birch tree has been planted on the grounds of the North Wales Police Headquarters to commemorate the force’s 50th anniversary.

Whilst policing has taken place in the region for over 160 years, North Wales Police as we now know it was officially formed on 1 April 1974.

It was created when the new counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd came into existence. The force served the geographical areas of both the new counties as had its predecessor, the Gwynedd Police, which had been formed on 1 October 1967 by the merger of the former Flintshire, Denbighshire and Gwynedd Constabularies, the latter having been the police force for Caernarvonshire, Anglesey and Merionethshire.

The tree planting ceremony in Colwyn Bay saw Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman unveil a plaque commemorating 50 years of North Wales Police.

A 10ft tree was chosen to match the existing trees on the grounds of headquarters.

They can grow up to 24 metres tall and are of great value to wildlife such as small birds that are attracted by the abundant seeds and insects that it hosts.

“The tree planting ceremony is one of many events being held throughout the year to celebrate our 50th anniversary,” said Chief Constable Blakeman.

“Activities are planned over the summer with attendance at shows and events and our popular North Wales Police Open Day will return to Colwyn Bay in September.

“We’re also working with NARPO (National Association of Retired Police Officers) to arrange a concert which will be held at the Rhyl Pavilion in October as well as our Force Awards in November.

“Whilst much has changed since 1974, our core values remain the same – protecting people from harm, catching criminals and keeping our communities safe.

“North Wales Police has changed in several ways over the last 50 years, changes which have been necessary to maintain and improve our policing services.

“Technology has advanced to transform how we work today and assist us in solving crimes quicker – officers can view images and retrieve information at the touch of a button, we’ve invested heavily in the latest Drone technology and our fleet have modernised with electric vehicles being introduced onto the roads.

“Of course, equality for women has come on leaps and bounds – a female Chief Constable would have been unthinkable 50 years ago.

“Now women are able to carry out every role in the force without restriction – from Firearms Officers to dog handlers, from Crime Scene Investigators to Custody. The opportunities these days are endless.

“Our passion and commitment to helping to keep our communities safe has remained the same over the last 50 years.

“One key thing we’ve always been able to rely on has been the support of the communities we serve.

“The contribution made by the communities of North Wales in helping us to fight crime cannot be underestimated and I would like to thank everyone for their support.

“I am proud of the modern force we have today, and I am extremely proud to lead an organisation full of dedicated and hardworking officers, staff and volunteers who are committed in delivering the best possible service to our communities.”

To take a trip down memory lane and to find out all the latest information on the 50th anniversary celebrations follow #NWP50 on social media channels and keep up to date by visiting the North Wales Police website.