George Winston Roddick, (born 2 October 1940 in Caernarfon) is a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...

, and the former North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. At the time he was a member of the Liberal Democrats, but ran as an independent and on election resigned from the Party. Roddick was the first person to hold the post.

Early life

Roddick was born and raised in Caernarfon, educated at the Royal Naval School Tal-Handaq, Malta and the Sir Hugh Owen Grammar School, Caernarfon. After training and working as a police officer in Liverpool, he undertook a law degree at University College, London.

Career

Legal career

He then trained as a barrister, appointed to the bar in 1968, and then became a

Crown Court The Crown Court is the court of first instance of England and Wales responsible for hearing all Indictable offence, indictable offences, some Hybrid offence, either way offences and appeals lied to it by the Magistrates' court, magistrates' court ...

recorder. One of Wales's leading barristers, he took silk in 1986, and was appointed as the first Counsel General for Wales in 1998, the most senior legal adviser to the Welsh Assembly, during which time he advised on the creation and legislative passing of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

Political career

Roddick has twice stood for the Liberal Party unsuccessfully in Parliamentary elections: in Anglesey at the 1970 general election, and in Cardiff South and Penarth in

1983 The year 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP is officially completed (this is consid ...

. He also served as Chairman of the Welsh Liberal Party in the early 1980s.

Police and Crime Commissioner

In November 2012, he sought election as the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Police, beating Labour's Tal Michael on the second count. After his election, he was criticised for running as an independent even though he is a member of the Liberal Democrats, with the Welsh Labour Party accusing him of 'hiding' his allegiance for political reasons. Roddick stood down at the 2016 elections and the seat was won by Arfon Jones of Plaid Cymru.

Other

In 1997, Roddick was appointed a member of the Independent Television Commission, and between 2004 and 2012 was a member of the

S4C Authority The S4C Authority ( cy, Awdurdod S4C) is an independent public body appointed by the United Kingdom Government's Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to oversee the management of the Welsh-language television channel S4C. Alt ...

Personal life

He is a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, patron of Caernarfon Rugby Club, an Honorary Life Member of Caernarfon Town F.C. Supporters Club, the Honorary President of GISDA (Gwynedd charity for homeless young people), and the Vice President of the Caernarfon Male Voice Choir.

Honours

Roddick is a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

, and an Honorary Fellow of the

University of Aberystwyth , mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all , established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'') , former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth , type = Public , endowment ...

References

External links

Professional profilePersonal websiteBio at Debretts
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roddick, Winston Living people category:Liverpool City Police officers People from Caernarfon Welsh police officers Welsh barristers 21st-century Welsh lawyers 20th-century Welsh lawyers Police and crime commissioners in Wales Welsh King's Counsel Alumni of University College London Welsh civil servants 20th-century King's Counsel Companions of the Order of the Bath Bards of the Gorsedd 1940 births Liberal Democrats (UK) people Independent police and crime commissioners Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates