Arfon Jones
Taken by Plaid Cymru photographer at the Plaid Cymru Conference.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner
In office
12 May 2016 – 12 May 2021
Preceded byWinston Roddick
Succeeded byAndy Dunbobbin
Personal details
BornMarch 1955 (age 68)
Political partyPlaid Cymru

Owain Arfon Jones (born March 1955) is a Welsh police officer who was the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Police from 2016 to 2021. He is a former member of Plaid Cymru.[1]

Jones had a long career in the North Wales Police, becoming Operational Inspector for the eastern division before retiring in 2008.[2] Jones served two full terms as county councillor for Gwersyllt West ward on Wrexham County Borough Council from 2008 until 2017.[3] He was lead member for Children's Social Care in the Wrexham county administration led by Aled Roberts, and stood as Plaid Cymru's candidate for the Wrexham Constituency in the 2010 general election.

In December 2012, Jones was reprimanded by the Chief Executive of Wrexham County Borough Council for sending tweets from a council meeting contrary to the Council's standing orders.[4]

Jones was elected North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner in the May 2016 election, succeeding Winston Roddick.[5] He did not seek re-election in the May 2021 election.[6] He was succeeded by Andy Dunbobbin of the Labour Party.[7] Jones later said that Adam Price was not the right person to lead Plaid Cymru.[8]

In October 2021, in the wake of Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens being sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Sarah Everard, Jones called for an independent body to investigate domestic violence among police officers, and criticised those denying the "culture of sexism and misogyny" within the profession.[9] He told The National Wales of his opinion that Couzens's behaviour was not unique, but rather a product of police culture. He said that senior police officers should take action against colleagues who act inappropriately.[9]

After the fatal stabbing of Conservative MP David Amess, Jones said the stabbing was the result of a "government that divides and rules and sows hate, fear and division" and concluded people would respond violently. He later apologised for his tweet as "untimely and offensive".[10] Two days later, Jones left Plaid Cymru after criticising the party for a "lack of strategy and a lack of success", and called for a new leader.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ex-Police and Crime Commissioner leaves Plaid Cymru because of a 'lack of strategy'". Nation.Cymru. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Arfon Jones". LinkedIn. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Councillor Arfon Jones". Wrexham County Borough Council. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Twitter ban: Wrexham councillor Arfon Jones urges rule change". BBC News. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Police and crime commissioner elections: North Wales". BBC News. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Plaid Leader Adam Price pays tribute to retiring North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones". The Party of Wales. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  7. ^ Hemming, Jez (9 May 2021). "Andy Dunbobbin elected as new North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner". North Wales Live. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  8. ^ Bebb, Huw (22 June 2021). "Arfon Jones yn dweud nad Adam Price yw'r person iawn i arwain Plaid Cymru". Golwg360.
  9. ^ a b Wilks, Rebecca (5 October 2021). "Former North Wales PCC, Arfon Jones, condemns denial of policed misogyny". The National Wales. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Sir David Amess killing: Ex-police boss Arfon Jones faces backlash for tweet". BBC News. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
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