Building Safer Communities Through Prevention and Partnership

Representatives from the South Wales Violence Prevention and Reduction Unit (VPRU), part of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, recently attended the Serious Violence Reduction Programme Conference in Birmingham, hosted by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and delivered by the Home Office.

The conference brought together representatives from Serious Violence Reduction Partnerships across the UK to share learning, strengthen partnerships and to discuss the future of violence prevention in England and Wales.

The conference reinforced a key message that sits at the heart of the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s vision for safer communities: preventing harm before it happens. Through collaboration with policing, criminal justice partners, education, local authorities, health and the third sector, South Wales continues to strive to deliver a public health approach to reducing violence by working together to identify risks early, support young people and tackle the root causes of violence and harm.

Speakers highlighted the positive impact of prevention-focused approaches, with investments in early intervention and diversion contributing to reductions in serious violence across communities. The Policing Minister praised the vital role of Violence Reduction Units and wider partnerships in investing in the creation of opportunities, building resilience and helping to prevent future harm.

The learning and relationships developed through the conference will help inform future work across South Wales, ensuring communities continue to benefit from the latest evidence, innovation and best practice. It also builds on the PCC’s longstanding commitment to supporting partnership-led approaches that help to make our communities safer.