Wavehill Commissioned to Evaluate Serious Violence Interventions in North Wales

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Wavehill has been commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales and key regional partners to undertake an independent evaluation of serious violence interventions in North Wales. These interventions, funded by Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs), have been in place since September 2024 and aim to reduce serious violence across the region.

Key Areas of Focus for the Evaluation

The evaluation will focus on assessing the effectiveness of these interventions, aligning with the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, which was launched in June 2024. This strategy brings together local authorities, North Wales Police, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Fire & Rescue Service, and other key partners to tackle the root causes of violence and promote a community-driven response to public safety.

In 2022-23, over 30,000 violent offences were recorded in North Wales, equating to 44 offences per 1,000 people. While this marked a decrease from the previous year, serious violence remains a significant concern for local communities. Wavehill’s evaluation will help determine how well current interventions are working to address these issues and improve safety across the region.

Key priorities for this evaluation include:

• Preventing violence against women and girls (VAWDASV) and addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence.

• Protecting vulnerable children and young people from exploitation, including modern slavery.

• Identifying best practices and innovations to improve responses to serious violence.

• Building a trauma-informed, preventative approach, addressing risk factors like adverse childhood experiences.

“We are delighted to work with the Police and Crime Commissioner and key partners to provide a comprehensive evaluation of serious violence interventions in North Wales. Our findings will inform future strategies and help make communities safer.” Andy Parkinson, Director at Wavehill

Wavehill will report back with its findings in March 2025, which will be published on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website.

For more information:

• see the press release

• read the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy

• contact Andy Parkinson and Sarah Usher

• Check out similar evaluations we have conducted in public safety and youth programmes