A first Security and Safety Management Conference was held by CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) aiming to unite the public sector in tackling violence against public sector staff.
Launched by the Government Minister Lord Warner, the conference outlined how the public sector can work more closely to discuss the violence against staff and to begin to share best practice and develop networks. As an example of the new relationship in practice, a concordat was signed between the NHS Security Management Service and the Health and Safety Executive.
This document, signed by the Chief Executive of the NHS Security Management Service and the Director General of the Health and Safety Executive, sets out closer working relationships including the sharing of information, joint investigations and sharing concerns.
What they say
Health Minister Lord Warner said: ‘Violence against public sector workers, in any form, is totally unacceptable. The Government will use new technology to protect public servants, alongside better training and vigorous prosecution of those who commit serious offences. The CIPFA conference is a welcome step, uniting the public sector in dealing with the small minority of people who attack or abuse public servants and damage property. Both the Government and the organisations represented at this conference want to contribute to improved understanding of the problem, and sharing the best practice across the public sector in defence of those who work in it.’
Timothy Walker, Director General of the Health and Safety Executive said: “I am proud that we are part of this conference. We are signalling our ever closer working relationships with other public sector organisations by signing a Concordat with the NHS Security Management Service. This will enable us to make even greater strides in tackling violence against public sector staff by sharing information, concerns and investigation work. I hope this conference will help make the public sector even stronger in tackling violence against staff members.” And Jim Gee, Chief Executive of the NHS Security Management Service said: ‘I am pleased that the NHS Security Management Service has been involved in this important step towards closer working across the whole public sector. The Concordat with the Health and Safety Executive will help us tackle the problem of violence in the workplace with a common approach, forge closer and better communication and enable the spread of learning. The better we can protect those who serve the public, the better those services will be.”
