Public invited to question police chiefs on tackling knife crime across South Yorkshire
The public are invited to attend a board meeting about what is being done to tackle knife crime across South Yorkshire
Residents are being invited to a meeting to find out what is being done to tackle knife crime and violence in South Yorkshire.
Community Confidence Board meetings are held monthly and provide a public forum where communities can hear directly from South Yorkshire Police, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and partner organisations.
The purpose is for members of the public to join in discussions, ask questions and influence decision-making on issues that matter most to local communities.
This month’s meeting will take place at the Doncaster Corn Exchange, on Wednesday, September 30 from 5pm to 7pm, and will be chaired by the South Yorkshire Deputy Mayor, Kilvinder Vigurs.
This follows the success of the inaugural Board meeting, held in Sheffield, which focused on trust and confidence in policing.
Kilvinder Vigurs, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “The Mayor, Oliver Coppard, made a commitment to developing a forum where the public of South Yorkshire could ask questions relating to things that matter to them relating to police and crime. We want this conversation to reach across the county.
“The next event will focus on reducing serious violence and knife crime. We know it requires more than enforcement alone. It demands a joined-up approach that brings together policing, education, health services, local authorities, community organisations and local people to understand the causes of violence and intervene early to prevent harm.
“The Community Confidence Board provides an important opportunity for residents, partners and those with lived experience to hear directly from decision-makers, ask questions and shape the conversation about how we make our communities safer.”
Attendees will be able to hear updates on and be able to contribute to discussions on areas such as:
- Trends in serious violence and knife-enabled crime across South Yorkshire
- Activity being undertaken by South Yorkshire Police to prevent and tackle serious violence
- Partnership approaches and collaboration across a range of stakeholders to reducing knife crime and supporting vulnerable young people
- Community-based interventions designed to prevent violence and improve outcomes for young people
- Future ambitions and priorities for reducing violence across the region
It will bring together those from policing, local authorities, education, health, community safety partnerships, voluntary and community organisations, youth services, and people with lived experience of serious violence and knife crime.
The Community Confidence Board aims to be a space where residents can ask any questions they have directly to policing and partner leaders, understand the work taking place to reduce knife crime in this months meeting, and help shape future priorities for safety across South Yorkshire.
Kilvinder Vigurs added: “I would encourage anyone with an interest in this issue, whether as a resident, professional, volunteer or community representative, to attend and take part in what I hope will be an open and constructive discussion.”