The annual conference of the National Community Safety Network in Leeds on June 9 and 10 brought together people from all over the world with a common interest in promoting safer communities.
The conference is supported by Safer Leeds, the city’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, and Leeds City Council.
Former deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Brian Paddick, is this year’s MC. He will introduce a packed programme of speakers, workshops, debates, master classes and networking opportunities, providing a forum for sharing expertise and thinking across a range of issues.
Councillor Les Carter, executive board member for community safety and chair of Safer Leeds said: “I’m delighted that we will be hosting this prestigious conference in Leeds. We are carrying out some excellent work in the city, particularly in the management of offenders and tackling knife crime, which we are looking forward to sharing with colleagues.
“We will also be taking careful note of success stories from other parts of the world to see what lessons can be learned for Leeds.”
Jane Mowat, Chair, of the National Community Safety Network said: “Community safety moves further and further up the agenda every year, and there is a huge amount of work going into making our communities safer.
“The conference brings these people together to share their experiences, thinking and expertise with people across other sectors whose goals are the same. Our aim is to integrate the vast amount of work that is going into making our communities safer, learning from others to improve community safety across the board.”
There was an international element to this year’s conference. Speakers will include Margaret Shaw, director of analysis and exchange at the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime in Montreal; and Elizabeth Johnston, deputy director at the European Forum for Urban Safety (EFUS). They will be sharing their experiences and encouraging joint international working.
The programme included a session with Dr Tom Manion, current chief executive of Irwell Valley Housing Association one of the country’s most influential housing professionals. He’ll be joined by Adam Crawford, Professor of Criminology at the University of Leeds to look at ‘neighbourhood happiness’ and explore the relationship between research, policy and practice in the fields of community safety as well as the regulation of anti-social behaviour.”
The conference will also include sessions on ‘Graffiti – Public Art or Vandalism?’, as well as offender management and Leeds’ ‘Weapons Awareness’ programme.
