VPRU Showcases Prevention Leadership at the Safer Communities Conference 2026

The South Wales Violence Prevention and Reduction Unit (VPRU), part of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, were proud to attend and contribute to the first annual Safer Communities Conference this month. Hosted by the Wales Safer Communities Network, the landmark event brought together community safety professionals from across Wales to strengthen Welsh community safety work, emphasise prevention activity and encourage pan-Wales collaboration.

With prevention as the conference’s golden thread, the event strongly aligned with the VPRU’s mission to reduce harm, address root causes of violence, and strengthen community resilience across South Wales. Daniel Jones, Head of the VPRU, contributed to key discussions on prevention-led practice and the importance of multi‑agency working.

The conference attracted practitioners and partners from across Wales, including:

• Wales Community Safety Officers (WaCSO)
• The All‑Wales ASB Practitioners Group
• Wales Data Analysis Innovation and Improvement Network (WDAIIN)
• Other community safety, policing, health, local government and youth services professionals

Working together throughout the day via structured sessions and valuable networking opportunities, the day offered space for delegates to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and build new connections – key foundations for effective prevention work and promoting a safe, just and inclusive South Wales for all.

Breakout sessions throughout the day raised focus on:

• Early Resolution & Stronger Communities – problem solving, early dialogue and local conflict resolution
• Extremism & Online Harms – panel discussion on emerging digital risks
• Future Generations & Community Safety – exploring long-term, prevention-focused community safety planning

These sessions reinforced the importance of collaborative, preventative thinking – an approach central to the VPRU’s continued work in violence reduction across South Wales.