The Community Safety Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jim Nixon
The Community Safety Podcast has been created by Jim Nixon from Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Community Safety is the use of skills, knowledge and techniques, to prevent and reduce crime, disorder and fear of crime and develop safer communities in which to live, work and visit. Community Safety affects us all in society, it's all our responsibility to improve communities. Some of the main issues affecting communities in today’s society is violence, knife crime, mental health, alcohol abuse, drugs, child exploitation, anti-social behaviour and many many more.
How does the national charity Crimestoppers work?
CEO Mark Hallas OBE takes us through all the key elements of the service.
Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.
A conversation with Michelle Bauge about her growing up years in Glasgow and how empowering young people makes our communities safer.
Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.
Nazir Afzal
Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, and most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24 year career, he has prosecuted some of the most high-profile cases in the country, including the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, and led nationally on several legal topics, notably violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honor-based violence. Nazir was recently appointed to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and is National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence to the Welsh Government.
Nazir joins me today to discuss his experience of growing up in inner-city Birmingham and why it could be a frightening place for his family and community. He shares what he found so fulfilling about working in the Crown Prosecution Service and how a move to London allowed him to build his skill set, develop and grow. Nazir also describes his involvement in the Rochdale case, the bravery of the young women giving evidence, and why it subsequently triggered a change in guidelines for cross-examinations in sensitive cases.
"The real answers come from within the community." - Nazir Afzal
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
- Nazir's experience of racism and hate crime as a teenager and a professional
- The lightbulb moment that drew Nazir towards becoming a lawyer.
- The opportunity that allowed him to pursue a more even work-life balance
- Why Nazir had to have a panic alarm installed in his house at one point and how that affected his life and his career
- The case that stands out in Nazir's mind and how it was brought to a successful conclusion by a diverse team of professionals
- Nazir's thoughts on how to break the cycle of imprisonment and criminal behaviour
- Some of the positives that have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic
Connect with Nazir Afzal:
- Nazir Afzal Website
- Nazir Afzal on LinkedIn
- Nazir Afzal on Twitter
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
- The Community Safety Podcast Website
- The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook
- The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter
The drug war in the UK and worldwide has been going on for a long time. It's not new to see news coverage on buy busts and undercover operations. It makes us more aware of the drug problem, but also lulls us into a false sense of security that things are improving. In reality, these drug busts pose more threats to our community safety.
In this episode, Neil Woods gives a sneak peek into the life of an undercover cop. He shares talks about the futility of the drug war and how it empowers organised crime. So many vulnerable individuals get caught in the crossfire between criminal organisations and the police. Fortunately, Neil shares that there is some change happening. He also details the concrete steps we must take to win this fight against drugs.
Tune in to this episode to find out the truth about the drug war and what you can do to help end it!
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover the ugly truth behind drug policy and why it needs to change.
Learn about Neil’s experiences and realisations from working as an undercover cop.
Find out what you can do to aid the social movement against the drug war.
Resources
- Noise App
- Connect with Neil: website | Twitter
- Grab a copy of Neil’s Drug Warsand Good Cop, Bad Warnow!
- Why major drug busts don’t work: an undercover cop explains
Episode Highlights
About the Young Neil Woods
- Neil grew up in the middle-class town of Buxton in the Peak District. He admits that he had a sheltered upbringing.
- He went to university by mistake, thinking he would be interested in Business Studies. He dropped out shortly after.
- While backpacking around Europe, he saw an advertisement for the police in the local newspaper and flipped a coin. The result eventually set him on his career path.
- Wanting to do something different and adventurous every day brought him to policing.
His Early Years in the Police
- At the start, Neil found policing to be a shock. Being a 19-year-old, he was naive and had no experience with handling conflict.
- He almost got kicked out during his probation and hated the first two years.
- But he wanted to prove to himself that he could get past two years, so he hung on by the skin of his teeth.
How Neil Started Working Undercover
- If you struggle in the police, your colleagues will perceive you as useless and unreliable. Neil experienced this as well.
- To get a fresh start, he moved to another station in Glossop.
- During that time, in the early to mid-90s, the government pushed police forces to prioritise the drug war.
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet is the National Police Lead on Anti-Social Behaviour.
Take a listen to this really honest interview.
Comprehensive Show Notes to Follow.
Caroline Goode served for 33 years in the Metropolitan Police in London. She retired as a Detective Superintendent in the Counter-Terrorism Command after spending ten years leading more than 100 complex murder investigations.
One of those investigations, the so-called honour killing of a young Iraqi Kurdish woman by her family, was to become a life changer for Caroline. This investigation, which began as a simple missing person’s report, was particularly challenging and complex.
After the Banaz case, she trained thousands of police officers nationally and internationally in Honour Based Violence Awareness and was awarded the Queens Policing Medal for her work in 2012.
Caroline joins me today to detail the damage that honour-based violence still does to women in the UK and explains her role in the shocking murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod, which was subsequently dramatised in the TV series Honour starring Keeley Hawes.
She shares her experience of joining the Metropolitan Police as an 18-year-old woman and some of the challenges she faced at the start of her career.
Caroline also discusses why she looked to progress her career in the Metropolitan Police in complex investigative work and why she has always preferred to work in teams that support victims.
"We need to keep raising awareness of honour-based violence about it in whichever format we can - there needs to be a wholly consistent approach, or we’re going to end up in a situation where these murders continue to happen ." - Caroline Goode
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
How Caroline's interest in becoming a detective began with a traumatic experience Why she fought to get maternity regulations changed in the Metropolitan Police Caroline's first role as a Senior Investigating Officer and the investigation that changed her life The story of Caroline’s involvement in the horrific Banaz Mahmod case and the eureka moment that eventually helped her team to bring her murderers to justice The difficulty of extraditing two of Banaz’s killers from Iraqui Kurdistan and how Caroline made legal history during the process
Murder!!!!
You've watched the TV shows involving murder investigations.
Want to know what it's really like to investigate a murder then tune into the next episode of The Community Safety Podcast.
This week former Detective Inspector Steven Keogh provides real insights into this type of investigation.
Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.
Doctor Paul Stewart is a notable figure with an extraordinary life journey that spans beyond his illustrious career as a footballer in the Premier League, having played for renowned clubs such as Manchester City, Spurs, and Liverpool. In 2016, he bravely stepped into the limelight to unveil a deeply personal and painful chapter from his childhood.
Paul disclosed that he had endured sexual abuse by his football coach from the tender age of 10 to 14. His courageous decision to share this profound and difficult truth not only demonstrates immense resilience but also sparked crucial conversations about safeguarding young athletes and addressing the pervasive issue of abuse within the realm of sports. Paul, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you.
"In the world of sports, courage extends beyond the playing field. Dr. Paul Stewart's journey, from the heights of a Premier League footballer to the depths of disclosing his painful past, exemplifies resilience. His decision to share a deeply personal experience not only shook the foundations of football but ignited crucial conversations on safeguarding. The ripple effect is clear—more attention, better policies. Yet, as we progress, let's not forget, that parents play a pivotal role. Education is the key, asking simple questions ensures the safety of our children. Let's redefine the norm and make safeguarding a shared responsibility. Together, we can protect the future of our young athletes."
- Impact on Identity: Paul shares that the most challenging aspect was the potential loss of identity as a footballer, transitioning from being an athlete to an abuse victim.
- Emotional Rollercoaster: Coming forward involved emotional challenges, considering the impact on family, dealing with interviews, and the overwhelming response from individuals nationwide.
- Importance of safeguarding policies
- Understanding the importance of what football means to young boys and girls, "it is a safe haven for them"
- Family's Reaction: Paul needed to ensure his family was okay with his disclosure. The revelation was not only difficult for him but also impacted his family, including his brothers, who were unaware of the abuse.
- Guilt and Manipulation: Paul discusses how abusers were master manipulators, not just grooming the individual but also manipulating the wider family, making it difficult for parents to detect.
- Evolution of Grooming: Paul highlights the worrying evolution of grooming techniques, emphasising the role of social media and the internet in providing easier access to children.
- Contributions to Child Protection: Paul reflects on the positive changes in child protection in sports since 2016. Many individuals, including Gary Harris, worked on improving safeguarding procedures and policies.
- Parental Education: Paul emphasises the need for educating parents on safeguarding, as many still believe abuse happens elsewhere and may not fully understand the importance of checks on organisations.
- Importance of Parental Questions: Parents should ask simple questions about safeguarding policies, contact information, and problem resolution when leaving their children in organisations. Paul encourages parents to be proactive in ensuring their children's safety.
These key points shed light on the emotional and societal aspects surrounding child safeguarding, particularly in the context of sports.
Chris Williams is a seasoned professional in community safety, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to his roles. With a background as a senior advisor for the Home Office and former head of public protection for a London borough, Chris has demonstrated a solid commitment to enhancing public safety.
Recently, he has taken on a new position as the strategic lead for community safety with the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, where he is expected to leverage his extensive knowledge to contribute to developing and implementing effective community safety strategies.
Chris's diverse background and leadership roles underscore his dedication to creating safer environments and addressing the complexities of public protection.
"I've always had this earliest background and that drives everything that I do is about being evidence LED an intelligence LED. A lot of time and resource is wasted by well-intentioned people doing things 'cause they think it's probably a good idea or they like the sound of it.” - Chris Williams
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
- Educational Background in Archaeology: Chris studied archaeology at university, and he emphasizes the connection between his archaeological background and community safety. Archaeology, for him, is about decoding the past and understanding human behaviour, which he found useful in his community safety work.
- Entry into Community Safety through Mapping: Chris initially worked for Ordnance Survey, specializing in geographic information systems (GIS) and digital mapping related to archaeology. His GIS experience led him to a role in the police, where he began drawing maps for crime prevention, specifically outlining areas for restricted access.
- National Reassurance Policing Programme: Chris played a pivotal role in the National Reassurance Policing Programme, which laid the groundwork for modern neighbourhood policing. The program focused on understanding community needs, mapping crime and disorder, and addressing signal crimes to enhance community safety.
- Early Work as an Analyst: Chris started as an analyst, initially focusing on signal crimes, and later became a specialist analyst supporting problem-solving processes. This role involved working closely with police teams and utilizing evidence-led and intelligence-led approaches.
- Integration of Neighbourhood Policing and Problem Solving: Chris highlights his involvement in integrating neighbourhood policing and problem-solving methodologies, particularly the SARAH model (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment of Harassment). This period marked the convergence of community-oriented policing strategies.
- Importance of Evidence-Led and Intelligence-Led Approaches: Chris emphasizes the significance of being evidence-led and intelligence-led in community safety efforts. He advocates for informed interventions supported by evidence, citing the What Works Centre at the College of Police as a positive example.
- Challenges in Policy Making: Chris discusses the challenges of policy-making and the need for policymakers and politicians to base decisions on evidence. He notes the importance of understanding what interventions work and avoiding those that lack evidence, addressing the issue of ignorance in decision-making.
- Effective Offender Management: Chris identifies effective offender management as a key factor in crime reduction. He shares insights from his experience, particularly in integrated offender management programs, where a holistic approach is taken to address the needs of individuals, including domestic abuse offenders and those at risk of radicalization.
- Building Successful Partnerships: Chris discusses the essential elements for building successful partnerships in community safety. He acknowledges the diverse stakeholders involved, ranging from probation officers to community groups, and stresses the need for a multi-agency approach, sharing information, and providing support to individuals at risk.
Fatima Whitbread, an MBE and world record holder, is renowned for her accomplishments in athletics and tireless efforts to reform the care system in the UK. Fatima's remarkable journey began when she was abandoned as a baby and left to die in a flat. A vigilant neighbour heard her cries and alerted the police, leading to her rescue. Placed under the care of Hackney Borough Council, Fatima spent the first six months of her life in a hospital, battling malnutrition and nappy rash.
Subsequently, she became a ward of court and spent the next 14 years in the care system, with the initial five years in a Hertfordshire children's home alongside 25 other children. This challenging upbringing fueled Fatima's determination to make a difference in the lives of children in similar circumstances. Today, she serves as the bass for the charity Action for Children, leveraging her experiences to advocate for care system reform.
In addition to her role with Action for Children, Fatima has embarked on personal campaigns to raise awareness and bring about positive change within the care system. Her journey from abandonment to becoming a world record holder and an influential advocate exemplifies resilience and the potential for positive transformation, inspiring others to join her in making a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children.
"In giving, you receive. Auntie Ray taught me this invaluable lesson. She was my bright shining star, the person who understood the plight of children in the care system. She gave me love, security, and a sense of belonging. Through her, I learned to call out injustice, not just for myself, but for all those kids who needed a safe and happy childhood. Today, my mission is to be a voice for these children, to bring together partnerships and build the power of sport, providing them with opportunities, focus, and the chance to learn essential life skills. Mentors are crucial in those formative years, helping children navigate a challenging path and avoid falling foul of the law. I share my experiences to emphasize the importance of awareness and support for these vulnerable kids, giving them the love they crave and the chance to be heard."
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
- Fatima shares her backstory, being abandoned as a baby and rescued by the police after a neighbour heard her crying.
- Fatima’s Early Years in the Care System
- Challenges in the Care System: The care system in the 60s lacked emotional support, with communal living, minimal explanations to children, and a lack of individual care.
- Fatima Meeting Biological Mother at the age of 5
- Separation from Siblings
- Failed Reintegration Attempt - Social workers tried to reintegrate Fatima with her family, but it failed when her mother rejected her, leading to feelings of abandonment
- Impact of Positive Mentorship - Auntie Ray, a caregiver, played a crucial role in Fatima's life, providing emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Importance of Support for Children in Care:
- Fatima emphasises the need for mentorship and support for children in the care system, advocating for sports as a means of empowerment and self-worth. Additionally, she discusses the importance of awareness and giving these children a voice.
The discussion sheds light on the challenges children face in the care system and the significance of positive influences and support in their lives.
For over 25 years, Sharon Bryan has worked in the field of domestic abuse. She is also a survivor of domestic abuse. In 2020. Sharon set up Sharon Bryan consultancy, a community interest company which involves running the Freedom Programme for women who have experienced domestic abuse. In January 2021, Sharon joined the award-winning National Centre for Domestic Violence as head of partnerships and development for domestic abuse services.
Sharon joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to explain what life is like living with an abusive partner and why she stayed in an abusive relationship for so long. She describes the purpose of her new role working for the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) and why the organisation feels it is so vital to build partnerships with other organisations that come into contact with people that are experiencing domestic abuse in their role. Sharon also shares her concerns that domestic violence is still so prevalent and why the NCDV is so committed to making it completely socially unacceptable.
"I try to be the person that I wish had been there for me and wasn't. Because it's a very, very lonely place when you don't know who to talk to. You don't know if you'll be believed. You can be in a room full of people and feel like you're the only person in there." - Sharon Bryan
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
● When and why Sharon’s husband’s violent behaviour escalated and what she had in common with other sufferers of domestic violence
● The awful catalyst that led to Sharon fleeing her marriage
● The trauma that children experience when they are caught up in abusive relationships
● How the Assist Database works to help police assist victims of domestic violence
● Sharon’s advice for somebody that is experiencing what she went through
● Sharon’s role as a facilitator for the Freedom Programme and how it gives women the tools that they need to identify abusive behavior
Connect with Sharon Bryan:
● Sharon Bryan Consultancy on Facebook
● Sharon Bryan on LinkedIn
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● The Community Safety Podcast Website
● The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook
Kathleen O'Toole, the former chief of police in both Boston and Seattle, and the inaugural Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate in Ireland, tasked with overseeing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Garda. Her extensive background provides a well-rounded perspective on law enforcement, spanning both sides of the Atlantic.
"In my journey through the corridors of policing on both sides of the Atlantic, from the gritty streets of Boston to the dynamic challenges of Seattle and the nuanced landscapes of Ireland, I reflect on a career sparked not by strategy but by a simple dare. The early days were marked by the adrenaline of crime-fighting, a whirlwind of arrests and pursuits. However, the realization dawned that beneath the surface, the heart of policing lay in aiding the vulnerable, in being there for those facing life's darkest moments."
- Kathleen O'Toole has a diverse background in law enforcement, having served as chief in Boston and Seattle police departments and as the first chief inspector of guarding spectra in Ireland.
- In the early 1970s, very few women were in policing in Boston. O'Toole joined the police force in 1979 on a dare from friends, and her early experiences were generally positive due to supportive mentors.
- Policing in the past was focused on fighting crime, with little emphasis on prevention and intervention. O'Toole acknowledges that the approach was exciting but led to a deterioration in the quality of life in the city.
- O'Toole highlights the need for effective mentorship, emphasizing how crucial it is for young officers to have the right guidance to avoid going down the wrong path.
- While O'Toole initially found the excitement in making felony arrests, she soon realized the broader scope of police work, with only a small percentage dedicated to violent crime. The majority involves assisting vulnerable individuals.
- O'Toole points out a challenge in recruiting police officers, attributing it to misconceptions fueled by TV shows that portray policing as constant car chases and gunfights.
- Policing challenges extend beyond traditional crime, as O'Toole discusses issues such as homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach.
- The intersection of public health and public safety is highlighted, with data showing that officers respond more frequently to mental health crises than to gunfights.
- O'Toole argues against a knee-jerk reaction to defund the police, advocating for a thoughtful approach that involves harnessing resources across different sectors to provide better solutions for communities.
O'Toole emphasizes the importance of building solid teams and cites examples from her career, such as multidisciplinary approaches in Boston, comprehensive strategies for domestic violence in Massachusetts, and establishing a navigation team in Seattle to assist people experiencing homelessness.
Bonus Episode
Iain Donnelly
Former Superintendant of West Midlands Police,
Iain Donnelly, has over 25 years in various intelligence, covert policing,
counter-terrorism, and serious crime investigation roles in London and the West
Midlands. Iain is also the author of Tango Juliet Foxtrot and the presenter of a podcast of the same name, exploring how the British police have changed over the last 30 years in
response to ten years of budget cuts combined with exponentially growing
demand.
Iain joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to discuss why closing 50% of the police
stations in England and Wales and 75% of the police stations in London had a
hugely negative effect on effective relationship-building between police
officers and the community they serve.
We dig into neighbourhood policing’s
impact on the rise of knife crime in the UK, and Iain shares stories about his
first postings in London and what he learned about policing and human behaviour
during his training period.
"Neighbourhood policing, for
me, was such an unbelievably flexible resource to be able to problem solve all
sorts of issues." - Iain Donnelly
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
● Iain’s experience of growing up in Belfast at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
● How the British Army’s loss turned out to be the Metropolitan Police's gain
The differences between methods of policing when Iain joined the service and when he left.
● Iain’s views on the efficacy of communitypolicing
● Why the Police Federation and the Superintendent's Association have been proved correct when they said ten years ago that harsh budget cuts would have far-reaching consequences for public safety
● The impact of COVID-19 on the relationship between the police and the public
● Why Iain feels that social media has been toxic for policing
● Whether policing is seen as an attractive career option in 2022
Connect with Iain Donnelly:
● Iain Donnelly on LinkedIn
● Tango Juliet Foxtrot: How did it all go wrong for British policing? by Iain Donnelly
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website
Carl Chinn MBE Ph.D Carl Chinn, MBA Ph.D. Carl is a social historian with a national profile, a writer, a teacher, an animator, and a public speaker. He was formerly a professor of Community History at the University of Birmingham, and director of Birmingham Lives Project collecting working-class memories as a freelance social historian. He gives history tours of Birmingham and collaborates on local history projects in several schools. He's the author of 34 books, his latest words are Peaky Blinders: The Real Story, the true history of Birmingham's most notorious gangs, which was a Sunday Times number one bestseller. Carl joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to discuss why we should be valuing every young person and finding the challenge for everyone in our community whatever their talents and passions. He shares why we still need a radical transformation of our educational system to allow all young people to find their niche. Carl also discusses his historical interest in gangs in 1900’s Birmingham, and his research for the book Peaky Blinders: The Real Story. "It should be local people that are pushing everything forward, not outsiders, ... we've got to start promoting young working-class talents from all the backgrounds in Birmingham." - Carl Chinn Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Carl’s perspective on growing up in a large storytelling family in Birmingham ● Who were the ‘gaffers’ of the street in Aston in the 1950s and 1960s and how they were the anchors of the community at the time ● How we can appreciate all sorts of skills and work to spotlight non-academic talents ● Why we shouldn’t be snobbish about academic education ● Perceptions about class and accent and why we should look beyond them to see value in people ● The truth behind the TV series Peaky Blinders, and why they were not gentleman criminals but vicious thugs ● Why it is so critical to provide opportunities for young people to avoid being drawn into crime in the 21st century ● Carl’s views on how we can eradicate some of the violence on our streets Connect with Carl Chinn: ● https://uk.linkedin.com/in/prof-carl-chinn-mbe-7577441b4 (Carl Chinn on LinkedIn) ● https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peaky-Blinders-Birminghams-notorious-Bestseller/dp/1789461723 (Peaky Blinders: The Real Story )by Carl Chinn Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★)
Alison Cope The biggest trauma Alison Cope has ever faced was losing her son Joshua to knife crime in 2013, but she uses her resilience and strength to educate and support others in seeing a future beyond negative experiences. Alison presents the Joshua Ribera Achievement Awards that recognises and celebrates the achievements of young people who are not in mainstream education. Alison has also worked with West Midlands Police, Staffordshire Police, Hertfordshire Police, and Crimestoppers along with keynote speaking and lecturing at Birmingham and Nottingham universities Alison joins me on the podcast to share how Joshua had turned his life around and had evolved from writing about violence to focusing on positivity, working hard, and loving his family. She discusses why negative imagery in music is so dangerous to children and young people and why it is such a problem that it is so widely available on social media. Alison also share with me what happened on the day in September 2013 when Josh was murdered, and the moment that she realised how powerful her voice could be and why she decided to devote her life to helping young people "It’s Joshua’s life that inspires and his death educates. My focus isn't Joshua's death, my focus is Joshua's life, and to inspire young people to see a future with hope, regardless of their past.." - Alison Cope Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Alison’s upbringing and why it gave her the strength and determination to fight forwards ● Why the traumas that Alison faced growing up helped her to help Joshua, and see past challenging behaviour and see to the core of a young person ● The traumatic event that threw Joshua off the rails at 13 years old ● Elements that led to Joshua’s custodial sentence and why Alison feels that it was a blessing in disguise ● Joshua’s involvement in the grime scene and how he became so successful as a lyricist ● Alison’s feelings about the man who killed her son and why she would like to meet him ● Alison’s thoughts on how to reduce knife crime in this country and how she works with young people to change the mindset around violence Connect with Alison Cope: ● https://www.facebook.com/staffordshirepolice/videos/248878720256497/ (Ditch the Blade) ● https://www.facebook.com/alison.cope.12 (Alison Cope on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/ali_cope (Alison Cope on Twitter) ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-cope-1b95b8122/ (Alison Cope on LinkedIn) Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this p)
Caroline Goode QPM Caroline Goode served for 33 years in the Metropolitan Police in London. She retired as a Detective Superintendent in the Counter-Terrorism Command after spending ten years leading more than 100 complex murder investigations. One of those investigations, the so-called honour killing of a young Iraqi Kurdish woman by her family, was to become a life changer for Caroline. This investigation, which began as a simple missing person’s report, was particularly challenging and complex. After the Banaz case, she trained thousands of police officers nationally and internationally in Honour Based Violence Awareness and was awarded the Queens Policing Medal for her work in 2012. Caroline joins me today to detail the damage that honour-based violence still does to women in the UK and explains her role in the shocking murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod, which was subsequently dramatised in the TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honour_(TV_series) (Honour starring Keeley Hawes). She shares her experience of joining the Metropolitan Police as an 18-year-old woman and some of the challenges she faced at the start of her career. Caroline also discusses why she looked to progress her career in the Metropolitan Police in complex investigative work and why she has always preferred to work in teams that support victims. "We need to keep raising awareness of honour-based violence about it in whichever format we can - there needs to be a wholly consistent approach, or we’re going to end up in a situation where these murders continue to happen ." - Caroline Goode Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
How Caroline's interest in becoming a detective began with a traumatic experience
Why she fought to get maternity regulations changed in the Metropolitan Police
Caroline's first role as a Senior Investigating Officer and the investigation that changed her life
The story of Caroline’s involvement in the horrific Banaz Mahmod case and the eureka moment that eventually helped her team to bring her murderers to justice
The difficulty of extraditing two of Banaz’s killers from Iraqui Kurdistan and how Caroline made legal history during the process
Connect with Caroline Goode:
https://www.amazon.com/Honour-Achieving-Justice-Banaz-Mahmod/dp/1786075458 (Honour: Achieving Justice for Banaz Mahmod) by Caroline Goode
https://oneworld-publications.com/caroline-goode.html (Caroline Goode Website)
https://twitter.com/carolinejgoode (Caroline Goode on Twitter)
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook)
https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter)
Paul Walmsley Paul Walmsley, a qualified life coach, humanistic counsellor, and NLP practitioner and previously ‘Britain's Most Wanted’ criminal and spent five years on the run from the police before handing himself in in 2011. Towards the end of his ten-year prison sentence, he completed a teacher training qualification, then went on to become a tutor at a sports academy before being released on license in July 2016. Paul published his Amazon bestselling memoir, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Ordinary-Decent-Criminal-Walmsley/dp/1973476932 (Just an Ordinary Decent Criminal), in 2017 and now participates in projects in the Merseyside area designed to guide young people away from a life of crime.
Paul joins me today to share his experience of growing up in crime-filled Norris Green as the youngest of nine children and how he was led into a criminal lifestyle from the age of 10 years old. He discusses the misconception that dealing drugs leads to a glamorous lifestyle and why the risks and dangers significantly outweigh the benefits. Paul also shares how he began to work with young people as part of a community reparation scheme and how he works with national organisations to help disenfranchised youths understand the value of hard work and education. “Some young people just need to know they’ve got somebody - give them a number, give them a website, let them know that you will never leave them. Once they’re ready to do the right thing, we’re here for them.”- Paul Walmsley “Let’s start writing young people in, not writing them off.” - Paul Walmsley Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● The traumatic events that led Paul towards a drug-fueled lifestyle and how he moved from using to selling ● The incident that led to him going on the run in Europe for five terrifying years ● Why Paul decided to hand himself in to the British police ● Paul's life in prison and why, although it was a tough experience that it was the best thing that could have happened to him ● What motivated Paul to write his book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Ordinary-Decent-Criminal-Walmsley/dp/1973476932 (Just an Ordinary Decent Criminal) ● The danger of cannabis use and why it is close to becoming an epidemic in the UK ● Why businesses are keen to take part in projects that support young people to get into meaningful work ● How to improve outcomes for young people at risk and why it’s a whole community effort ● Paul’s philosophy of never giving up on anyone Connect with Paul Walmsley: ● https://lewisdunnefoundation.co.uk/ (The Lewis Dunne Foundation website) ● https://county-lines.co.uk/ (County Lines website) ● https://uk.linkedin.com/in/paul-walmsley-984534138 (Paul Walmsley on LinkedIn)
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
Nazir Afzal Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, and most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24 year career, he has prosecuted some of the most high-profile cases in the country, including the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, and led nationally on several legal topics, notably violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honor-based violence. Nazir was recently appointed to the https://www.ipso.co.uk/ (Independent Press Standards Organisation) (IPSO) and is https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/appointment/national-adviser-for-violence-against-women-and-other-forms-of-gender-based-violence-domestic-abuse-and-sexual-violence/ (National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence) to the Welsh Government. Nazir joins me today to discuss his experience of growing up in inner-city Birmingham and why it could be a frightening place for his family and community. He shares what he found so fulfilling about working in the Crown Prosecution Service and how a move to London allowed him to build his skill set, develop and grow. Nazir also describes his involvement in the Rochdale case, the bravery of the young women giving evidence, and why it subsequently triggered a change in guidelines for cross-examinations in sensitive cases. "The real answers come from within the community." - Nazir Afzal Today on The Community Safety Podcast: Nazir's experience of racism and hate crime as a teenager and a professional
The lightbulb moment that drew Nazir towards becoming a lawyer.
The opportunity that allowed him to pursue a more even work-life balance
Why Nazir had to have a panic alarm installed in his house at one point and how that affected his life and his career
The case that stands out in Nazir's mind and how it was brought to a successful conclusion by a diverse team of professionals
Nazir's thoughts on how to break the cycle of imprisonment and criminal behaviour
Some of the positives that have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic
Connect with Nazir Afzal:
https://www.nazirafzal.co.uk/ (Nazir Afzal Website)
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nazir-afzal-obe-0b2bb34 (Nazir Afzal on LinkedIn)
https://twitter.com/nazirafzal/status/1354130875408142338 (Nazir Afzal on Twitter)
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook)
https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter)
Iain Donnelly Former Superintendant of West Midlands Police, Iain Donnelly, has over 25 years in various intelligence, covert policing, counter-terrorism, and serious crime investigation roles in London and the West Midlands. Iain is also the author of Tango Juliet Foxtrot and the presenter of a podcast of the same name, exploring how the British police have changed over the last 30 years in response to ten years of budget cuts combined with exponentially growing demand. Iain joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to discuss why closing 50% of the police stations in England and Wales and 75% of the police stations in London had a hugely negative effect on effective relationship-building between police officers and the community they serve. We dig into neighbourhood policing’s impact on the rise of knife crime in the UK, and Iain shares stories about his first postings in London and what he learned about policing and human behaviour during his training period. "Neighbourhood policing, for me, was such an unbelievably flexible resource to be able to problem solve all sorts of issues." - Iain Donnelly
Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Iain’s experience of growing up in Belfast at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland ● How the British Army’s loss turned out to be the Metropolitan Police's gain
The differences between methods of policing when Iain joined the service and when he left. ● Iain’s views on the efficacy of communitypolicing ● Why the Police Federation and the Superintendent's Association have been proved correct when they said ten years ago that harsh budget cuts would have far-reaching consequences for public safety ● The impact of COVID-19 on the relationship between the police and the public
● Why Iain feels that social media has been toxic for policing
● Whether policing is seen as an attractive career option in 2022
Connect with Iain Donnelly: ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-donnelly-ikinsights/ (Iain Donnelly on LinkedIn) ● https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tango-Juliet-Foxtrot-British-policing-ebook/dp/B09BTP8QQV (Tango Juliet Foxtrot: How did it all go wrong for British policing? by Iain Donnelly)
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website)
● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook)
● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter)
CSP5 - Nazir Afzal
Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, and most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24 year career, he has prosecuted some of the most high-profile cases in the country, including the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, and led nationally on several legal topics, notably violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honor-based violence. Nazir was recently appointed to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and is National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence to the Welsh Government.
Nazir joins me today to discuss his experience of growing up in inner-city Birmingham and why it could be a frightening place for his family and community. He shares what he found so fulfilling about working in the Crown Prosecution Service and how a move to London allowed him to build his skill set, develop and grow. Nazir also describes his involvement in the Rochdale case, the bravery of the young women giving evidence, and why it subsequently triggered a change in guidelines for cross-examinations in sensitive cases.
"The real answers come from within the community." - Nazir Afzal
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
- Nazir's experience of racism and hate crime as a teenager and a professional
- The lightbulb moment that drew Nazir towards becoming a lawyer.
- The opportunity that allowed him to pursue a more even work-life balance
- Why Nazir had to have a panic alarm installed in his house at one point and how that affected his life and his career
- The case that stands out in Nazir's mind and how it was brought to a successful conclusion by a diverse team of professionals
- Nazir's thoughts on how to break the cycle of imprisonment and criminal behaviour
- Some of the positives that have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic
Connect with Nazir Afzal:
- Nazir Afzal Website
- Nazir Afzal on LinkedIn
- Nazir Afzal on Twitter
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
- The Community Safety Podcast Website
- The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook
- The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
David Breakspear-Criminals can they change?
The criminal justice system exists to create better and safer communities for everyone. People who commit serious crimes are sentenced to prison for them to reflect on their actions, and hopefully, come out better. In today’s special episode, we ask the question: Can criminals reform? What are the circumstances that led them to a life of crime in the first place? What realisations can bouncing in and out of the prison system bring? And how can prison reform address issues on criminality? Having spent the majority of his adult life in prison, our guest sheds light on these questions and more. David Breakspear, a former career criminal and prisoner, candidly shares his life story with us. At the age of 10, he committed his first criminal offence which led to crimes that went on for four decades. Now, David does amazing work on prison reform and transforming communities. Indeed, prisoners aren’t inherently bad people and everyone is capable of change. It's about having the right mindset to move forward in life. With his experience of the criminal justice system, David shares his thoughts on prison reform and working towards what is best for the majority. Listen to this episode to learn more about the life of a prisoner and what it takes to push for prison reform! Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover how the criminal justice system has affected prisoners’ lives. Learn the importance of prison reform. David shares his experience from his first criminal offence and how his prison life transformed his life.
ResourcesCheck out the https://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (Noise App)!
Contact David https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-breakspear-64865317b (LinkedIn) | https://journeyofareformedman.net/ (Blog) | https://www.startingstep.co.uk/ (Website)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1690018496/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 (A Father’s Son) by David Breakspear
Episode HighlightsDavid’s Childhood David’s home life was quite happy. He grew up in a large family in the southeast of England. His adverse childhood experiences stem from sexual abuse away from home at age eight. He and his mate used to go to a toy shop owned by their abuser. At that time, even though it didn’t feel right, they didn’t think the abuse was wrong. So, they kept coming back. They also took advantage of the shop’s layout to steal some toys.
Grappling with the AbuseDavid never opened up about his experience to his family. Two years after the abuse, he contracted viral meningitis. At this period, David felt lost. He frequently experienced panic attacks and had trouble sleeping. He was never comfortable away from home because he’d be too distressed and upset. David also struggled with his own identity, being the youngest of six. He even changed his own name to Tony during this time.
How the Experience Affected His EducationDavid remembers being a naughty schoolboy even before the abuse. He rebelled against his teachers pigeonholing him. It wasn’t until after meningitis when the real badness happened. The secondary school that David went to was one of the worst schools in the area. However, during that time, he felt like he belonged in that environment.
David’s First Criminal OffenceDavid was arrested for criminal damage at the age of 10. He smashed the window of a shop, which coincidentally, was close to where he was sexually abused. It’s common to see criminal damage or petty theft as first offences.
First Detention PeriodDavid was put into the care of a local authority for four months at the age of 15. This experience made him used to being away from home. Their goal was to break you down, get rid of your attitude, and rebuild a new one. This system didn’t work for David. His stay at the dormitory extended a little bit more. David eventually got used to and even enjoyed being...
Just a quick refresher about the real "Why" around how we can transform Communities in the 21st Century.
CSP20-The drug war in the UK and worldwide has been going on for a long time. It's not new to see news coverage on buy busts and undercover operations. It makes us more aware of the drug problem, but also lulls us into a false sense of security that things are improving. In reality, these drug busts pose more threats to our community safety. In this episode, Neil Woods gives a sneak peek into the life of an undercover cop. He shares talks about the futility of the drug war and how it empowers organised crime. So many vulnerable individuals get caught in the crossfire between criminal organisations and the police. Fortunately, Neil shares that there is some change happening. He also details the concrete steps we must take to win this fight against drugs. Tune in to this episode to find out the truth about the drug war and what you can do to help end it! Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Discover the ugly truth behind drug policy and why it needs to change.
Learn about Neil’s experiences and realisations from working as an undercover cop.
Find out what you can do to aid the social movement against the drug war.
Resourceshttps://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (Noise App)
Connect with Neil:https://twitter.com/wudzee0 ( )https://www.neilwoods.net/ (website) | https://twitter.com/wudzee0 (Twitter)
Grab a copy of Neil’shttps://www.amazon.com/Drug-Wars-terrifying-inside-Britains/dp/1785037447 ( Drug Wars) andhttps://www.amazon.com/Good-Cop-Bad-War/dp/1785034758 ( Good Cop, Bad War) now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm-BWHnJtxA (Why major drug busts don’t work: an undercover cop explains)
Episode HighlightsAbout the Young Neil WoodsNeil grew up in the middle-class town of Buxton in the Peak District. He admits that he had a sheltered upbringing.
He went to university by mistake, thinking he would be interested in Business Studies. He dropped out shortly after.
While backpacking around Europe, he saw an advertisement for the police in the local newspaper and flipped a coin. The result eventually set him on his career path.
Wanting to do something different and adventurous every day brought him to policing.
His Early Years in the PoliceAt the start, Neil found policing to be a shock. Being a 19-year-old, he was naive and had no experience with handling conflict.
He almost got kicked out during his probation and hated the first two years.
But he wanted to prove to himself that he could get past two years, so he hung on by the skin of his teeth.
How Neil Started Working UndercoverIf you struggle in the police, your colleagues will perceive you as useless and unreliable. Neil experienced this as well.
To get a fresh start, he moved to another station in Glossop.
During that time, in the early to mid-90s, the government pushed police forces to prioritise the drug war.
He then got listed as one of the people to get an attachment to the drug squad.
One day, one of the officers just handed him 20 quid to buy some crack cocaine, and he started working undercover without any training at all.
His First Undercover ExperienceHe had no cover story. When a guy answered the door and said they hated students, he simply said he was one.
The guy laughed and seemed to have trusted Neil because of his “stupidity”.
But at the time, working undercover wasn't all that difficult because police forces weren't using these tactics for low-level crime.
Being in the Frontlines of the Drug WarWhen Neil came back with the cocaine, the bosses wanted more undercover operations.
Within four years, he was training other people to work undercover because the results were massive.
Drug investigators and crime squads tend to be the most hardworking and dedicated. Neil was drawn to this specialism and thought they could change the world.
For the first few years, he was living a dream. He felt that...
CSP 19-Reforming Lives, Transforming Communities, and Campaigning for Prison Reform with David BreakspearThe criminal justice system exists to create better and safer communities for everyone. People who commit serious crimes are sentenced to prison for them to reflect on their actions, and hopefully, come out better. In today’s special episode, we ask the question: Can criminals reform? What are the circumstances that led them to a life of crime in the first place? What realisations can bouncing in and out of the prison system bring? And how can prison reform address issues on criminality? Having spent the majority of his adult life in prison, our guest sheds light on these questions and more. David Breakspear, a former career criminal and prisoner, candidly shares his life story with us. At the age of 10, he committed his first criminal offence which led to crimes that went on for four decades. Now, David does amazing work on prison reform and transforming communities. Indeed, prisoners aren’t inherently bad people and everyone is capable of change. It's about having the right mindset to move forward in life. With his experience of the criminal justice system, David shares his thoughts on prison reform and working towards what is best for the majority. Listen to this episode to learn more about the life of a prisoner and what it takes to push for prison reform! Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover how the criminal justice system has affected prisoners’ lives. Learn the importance of prison reform. David shares his experience from his first criminal offence and how his prison life transformed his life.
ResourcesCheck out the https://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (Noise App)!
Contact David https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-breakspear-64865317b (LinkedIn) | https://journeyofareformedman.net/ (Blog) | https://www.startingstep.co.uk (Website)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1690018496/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 (A Father’s Son) by David Breakspear
Episode HighlightsDavid’s Childhood David’s home life was quite happy. He grew up in a large family in the southeast of England. His adverse childhood experiences stem from sexual abuse away from home at age eight. He and his mate used to go to a toy shop owned by their abuser. At that time, even though it didn’t feel right, they didn’t think the abuse was wrong. So, they kept coming back. They also took advantage of the shop’s layout to steal some toys.
Grappling with the AbuseDavid never opened up about his experience to his family. Two years after the abuse, he contracted viral meningitis. At this period, David felt lost. He frequently experienced panic attacks and had trouble sleeping. He was never comfortable away from home because he’d be too distressed and upset. David also struggled with his own identity, being the youngest of six. He even changed his own name to Tony during this time.
How the Experience Affected His EducationDavid remembers being a naughty schoolboy even before the abuse. He rebelled against his teachers pigeonholing him. It wasn’t until after meningitis when the real badness happened. The secondary school that David went to was one of the worst schools in the area. However, during that time, he felt like he belonged in that environment.
David’s First Criminal OffenceDavid was arrested for criminal damage at the age of 10. He smashed the window of a shop, which coincidentally, was close to where he was sexually abused. It’s common to see criminal damage or petty theft as first offences.
First Detention PeriodDavid was put into the care of a local authority for four months at the age of 15. This experience made him used to being away from home. Their goal was to break you down, get rid of your attitude, and rebuild a new one. This system didn’t work for David. His stay at the dormitory extended a little bit more....
CSP 18-Equipping your loved ones with Open Water safety skills with Beckie Ramsay. Swimming is one of the life skills we are taught at a young age. We learn to manage our breathing and to propel our arms and legs to keep us afloat. However, the open water houses dangers beyond its inviting surface. The water may be too cold. Debris and other objects may obstruct your path. Tides can be strong enough to pull even the best and strongest Olympic swimmers. To mitigate your risk, you need to be equipped with water safety skills. For today's unique episode, Beckie Ramsay joins us to talk about water safety. Ten years ago, she lost her firstborn to open water swimming. She graciously talks about the tragedy that led her to campaign for water safety. Most importantly, Beckie imparts life-saving safety advice that you and your family can use in cases of emergency. Listen to this episode to be prepared in the face of danger, not only for yourself but for your family and friends. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Understand the importance of water safety skills. Discover the dos and don'ts during open water swimming. Learn about valuable resources you can use during an emergency.
ResourcesCheck out the https://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (Noise App) Download the https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app/ (What3Words app) in cases of emergency RNLI’s Seaside Safety Song,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmSM_Caw7yw ( Starfish Song) Visit the Doing It For Dylan https://www.facebook.com/DoingItForDylan/ (Facebook) and https://twitter.com/DoingitforDylan (Twitter) pages Connect with Beckie: https://twitter.com/missmybabyboy (Twitter)
Episode HighlightsEverything about DylanBeckie’s son, Dylan lost his life while swimming in open water. Now, she’s dedicated to educating others about the dangers of open water swimming. Dylan was always a very bright child who was destined for greater things. He enjoyed spending time with friends and family. He was also passionate about education and fitness. Dylan could get lost in books and loved all sorts of music. Dylan was the kind of guy who was content with what he had.
Dylan’s Talent in Sports and FitnessDylan was very fit and was active in sports and fitness. His PE teacher even said that it wouldn’t be surprising to see Dylan at the Olympics someday. He was the athlete of the year in his school two years in a row, excelling in track and throwing events. He would have been 23 today. Sometimes Beckie hurts for the things Dylan could have done.
Events Leading up to the AccidentOne day, Dylan and his two friends decided to cool down at a local quarry. Beckie got the call about the accident from a police officer while she was at her other child’s football game. Soon, Beckie, her mom, and her stepdad were driving as fast as they could to the quarry. She remembers thinking that Dylan must have fallen from a height and got a broken bone. However, as they got nearer to the accident site, she got the sense from the police radio that it was something more serious.
Upon Arriving at the QuarryThe scene at the site felt like something out of a film. The entire village was out, and there were police and black vehicles everywhere. Beckie’s husband was the one to deliver the news. She wanted to hold and help Dylan in any way she could but she wasn’t allowed to do so. She’ll never know if her voice or presence would have made a difference. Dylan had only been in the water for 20 minutes, and underwater for 3 minutes. He asked for help three times. There was a Polish family, but they weren’t able to help him right away due to language barriers.
Dangers of Open Water SwimmingOne of the dangers of open water swimming is cold water shock. It is an involuntary reaction that causes you to panic, hyperventilate, and even have heart problems. In addition to this, open water can also...
CSP 17-Episode on Challenging the Norm to Effectively Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour The predicament of anti-social behaviours is not something you turn your back on. Anti-social behaviours have a huge impact not just on individuals, but also in the families and the communities. Today’s episode explores the deep-rooted causes of anti-social behaviour and how Nick Buckley MBE, through the Mancunian Way, established a way to alleviate it. About Nick Buckley Nick Buckley MBE worked as youth intervention officer and as a Community Safety Coordinator with the Manchester City Council. In 2011, Nick’s role was terminated due to budget cuts. He decided to take his severance pay and established a charity called the Mancunian Way which works to reduce anti-social behaviour by prevention and intervention. The charity was recognized as the Community Project of the Year last 2015. Key Takeaways When you accept your flaws, you’re no longer susceptible to people’s judgments or opinions of you. Every action has a corresponding consequence. Children will want to please adults in terms of their behaviours and it’s important to tap into that. Children need advice, guidance, and boundaries. Addressing the issue of anti-social behaviour has to be about changing behaviours and perceptions of the young people instead of just relying on entertainment. Improving the community will improve lives holistically. There’s no such thing as one size fits all—every child should be given a choice especially in their education. Personal responsibility is a must. Having a good partnership is beneficial for improving lives.
Time-Stamped Show Highlights [00:00:35] Getting to know our astounding guest [00:02:11] Who is Nick and what makes him commendable [00:06:32] How Nick overcame his stutter and flaws
“I was always the first person to take the mickey out of me. The second you do that, you take the power away from everybody else.” [00:07:55] Nick’s upbringing that left a huge impact to who he is right now [00:08:21] The Genesis of Nick’s anti-social behaviour alleviation [00:09:47] Nick’s take on taking responsibilities for your life [00:13:03] Nick explains how important it is to tap into parents’ natural instincts [00:15:52] An important talk about how giving choices to children can change the course of their lives [00:17:55] How Mancunian Way got established [00:26:00] Nick shares an anecdote with the young girl they’ve worked with and what kept them going with their advocacy [00:28:38] What makes Nick unique
“Unless your overarching plan stops a conveyor belt of young people making the choices, then we will have these issues forever.” [00:30:39] Nick on changing lives
“We need to stop doing this to people and we need to empower communities so they can improve the lives of their own young people and place them in communities.” [00:34:04] On schools and their systems [00:41:37] Anecdote of the girl in the youth club [00:46:05] What the government needs to do to contribute to society [00:48:21] Nick talks about a setback [00:49:00] On how to empower communities in the society [00:54:52] Our life and destiny [00:58:22] Nick on concentrating with primary schools [01:00:43] Average anti-social behaviour family [01:02:00] Nick in negotiation for partnership work [01:08:00] Nick’s upcoming book on November
Selected Links for This Episode https://twitter.com/NickBuckleyMBE?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Connect with Nick Buckley on Twitter) https://www.facebook.com/NickBuckleyMBE/ (Connect with Nick Buckley on Facebook)
Community Safety Podcast Resources https://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (The Noise App)
Love what you’ve heard? https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-community-safety-podcast-transforming-communities/id1549970476 (Like, comment, subscribe, and leave a review on iTunes! )
CSP 16-Understanding Youth Offenders and Youth Exploitation with Nikki Holmes Child exploitation is a serious problem. Many youths are coerced and manipulated to engage in violence, abuse, and criminality. We can be quick to pass judgement on those who get on the wrong side of the law. But the issue of exploitation doesn’t start with the crime and end with youth offenders in handcuffs. It’s a complex web of circumstances and contexts. Today’s guest believes that it shouldn’t end with youth offenders behind bars. In this episode, Nikki Holmes dives deep into the issue of child exploitation. She discusses the factors that make young people vulnerable. Nikki also shares how organisations and gangs exploit these unmet needs for their gain. Finally, we learn about the work that still needs to be done to safeguard our youth from exploitation. Tune in to gain a new perspective on child exploitation and youth offenders. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Understand why youth offenders are victims too. Learn what contributes to vulnerability and how it leads to exploitation. Find out what you can do to safeguard the future of our youth and society.
ResourcesReach out to Nikki through Safer Together: https://www.safer-together.co.uk/ (website) | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057047576413 (Facebook)
Episode HighlightsNikki’s BackgroundNikki has always been interested in crime, society, and why people do what they do. She was the first person in her family to go to university, as well as the first police officer. Learning criminology in university ignited her passion to join the police force. Nikki was sheltered and wasn’t streetwise, so her mum worried about the things she would witness and how she would react.
Joining the PoliceNikki joined the police at 21. Prior to this, she led a good, supportive life with her mum. Her first shift changed her perception of the world and society. She was assigned to one of the most notorious areas in Coventry for youth offenders. Despite the challenges, this experience gave her the best foundation for what she does now.
Making a DifferenceNikki had every intention of staying in the police force. However, she eventually became disillusioned. She wanted to understand why people act the way they do and how we can tackle it. The cycle of putting the people in cuffs, bringing them to court, and making them serve time frustrated Nikki. Nikki wanted to solve the problem rather than simply catch offenders.
The Victim-Offender Overlap and Youth OffendersVictims and offenders are often viewed as binary—a person can only be one of either. However, after tackling child exploitation, Nikki realized that the situation is more nuanced and complex. Youth offenders are often those who have witnessed or been victims of crime at one point.
Leaving the PoliceNikki involved herself in holistic assessment for youth offenders. Here, she learned to understand their backgrounds. The process of constantly locking up offending youth didn’t align with her values. She wanted to understand special education needs and disabilities and their impact on youth offenders. So, after eight years, Nikki left the police.
Experiences After Leaving the PoliceNikki later worked in substance misuse where she was involved in a creative multi-agency approach. Working as a Children’s Services Inspector taught her to look at the overarching view of problems. She learned why things are not working and why systems don't adequately protect children. Also, she came to know how the youth mistrust safeguarding. So, she put up a consultancy to support organisations that protect children.
Nikki’s Consultancy WorkNikki is currently heading a project on child exploitation. Here, she works closely with other agencies and professionals. The police are now increasingly recognising that youth offenders are also victims.
CSP 15-Finding Success and Lending a Helping Hand with Mark Maciver Life can be pretty harsh, especially when you go through failures and setbacks. When you hit rock bottom, it's hard to see a way out and even harder to lend a helping hand to others. But failure is a phase: it is not permanent. When you lend a helping hand and extend a little bit of compassion, it goes a long way both for you and those you support. In this episode, Mark Maciver shares stories about his life and compelling advice on doing our part in making the world and other people's lives better. Mark is a passionate, driven barber whose dedication will surely be an inspiration to many. This episode is for everyone who wants to make a positive impact on the world. Those pursuing studies or careers, especially entrepreneurs, will benefit from this motivating and insightful discussion. People of all ages can pick up so much wisdom and inspiration from the things that Mark has shared with us. Tune in to this episode to find out how to triumph over life's hardships and learn how to lend a helping hand, inspire change, and positively impact the world! Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Discover how Mark built his career from scratch and succeeded. Hear Mark’s powerful advice on the importance of knowing what matters and choosing when to walk away. Find out how you can lend a helping hand in transforming the world into a better place.
Resourceshttps://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (Noise App) https://www.slidercuts.com/ (SliderCuts) Mark’s Shaping Up Culture, is available on https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Up-Culture-Mark-Maciver/dp/1999642562 (Amazon). Grab your copy now! Connect with Mark: https://twitter.com/slidercuts (Twitter) | https://www.instagram.com/slidercuts/ (Instagram) | https://www.facebook.com/slidercuts/ (Facebook) | https://www.youtube.com/user/SliderCuts (YouTube) | https://www.slidercuts.com/ (website)
Episode HighlightsMark’s Childhood YearsBeing an immigrant, his mum was not knowledgeable about things like insurance. After his mum’s shop got robbed, Mark lived on the streets for a few nights. He does not have a good recollection of this event. Mark recalls having to share two slices of bread among their family of five because they had no food or money.
‘No, for someone to come to you, say they're hungry? And then you just say to them, “I pray for you…” Why not actually give the person some bread to eat, and then pray with the person?’After constantly moving around, things became stable after they moved to Camden. He lived there until the age of 26.
Making ConnectionsNigerian parents are typically strict, so his mum was very protective of him during Mark’s early teenage years. During that time, Mark dabbled in drama school and emceeing. Feeling like he didn’t fit in anywhere pushed him to explore a lot, which ultimately helped his career. At 18, Mark started cutting people’s hair and got lots of customers from those connections. Listen to the full episode to find out how Mark bagged a gig as an emcee at a club when his friends lend a helping hand!
What Inspired Mark to Become a BarberSeeing different hairstyles always fascinated him. When he got his hair shaved off as a child, he felt weird seeing his peers sporting different hairstyles. Wanting a good haircut fueled his interest in barbering. Mark taught himself how to cut hair by watching how other barbers do it. He only received proper training at D&L’s when he was 18. Tune in to the full episode to hear about Mark’s journey, from his failed attempts at cutting his hair to having customers flock to him.
Opening His ShopMark, having been tasked with managing D&L’s, had so many ideas on how to run the shop, but it wasn’t his to run. Feeling that his potential was getting wasted, Mark set off to create his own business. He emphasises that location is important. It took him two years to find the right spot for his...
CSP14 - Matt Murray The Power Role Models Hold in Dealing with Racism in Football with Matt MurrayDealing with Racism, Discrimination, and Hate: How Matt Murray Managed to be a Successful Professional Football PlayerDealing with Racism through Kindness: Matt Murray's Journey in Professional Football Racism is everywhere, even in professional football. Matt Murray learned this the hard way. As a child, Matt was adopted by a loving home. His parents, although both white, showed him that his skin colour doesn't matter. Matt's upbringing is why he believes it is vital to have role models to look up to when you are young. In this episode, Matt shares his earliest memory of dealing with racism. He didn't experience a lot of racism within his club, but outside of it was rough. Even as a child, there were times where not being white was especially hard for him. Listening to this episode will help you gain important insights about dealing with racism and hate. Through exploring Matt's journey, you will learn the importance of integrating this topic into your child's education. Ultimately, you will realize what steps you can take to create a safer community for the next generation. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Hear about former professional football goalkeeper Matt Murray's experiences in dealing with racism in the industry.
Learn the importance of role models in educating the younger generation and keeping the community safe.
Find out more life lessons from Matt’s experiences that made him the man he is today.
Resourceshttps://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/ (The Noise App) helps simplify noise to enhance reporting and investigation procedures. Check their website to find out how it can help you.
Visit our page, https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk (The Community Safety Podcast), to learn how communities can reduce crime, violence, and many, many more.
Episode HighlightsThe Young MattMatt’s biological mother is English, while his biological father is Nigerian.
He was adopted from birth by his white parents, who eventually separated and later married new partners.
Matt grew up being heavily influenced by his stepdad, Steve, to play football around the municipality of Lichfield.
He describes his upbringing as different but very enjoyable.
Having No Control Over His SituationMatt knew he was adopted from the start because his adoptive parents were white. He also has an adopted brother whose dad is from Barbados.
Growing up, Matt always thought he was lucky to have been adopted by his parents. He couldn’t have felt more loved.
However, he also experienced dealing with racism growing up in a predominantly white area.
It was painful for his adoptive parents to see him being treated differently because of his skin colour.
When it comes to playing football, Matt experienced a different degree of racism. Despite that, he still grew up proud of his ethnicity.
Not Seeing the ColourMatt reiterates how very fortunate he is with his adoptive parents. They were involved with orphanages in Nepal, Romania, and a lot of other charity work.
His parents experienced a different brand of stigma from adopting him.
Then, he met one of his inspirations, Sunday League Manager Don Astle.
Don Astle sees you, the person, the human being.
At the age of nine, he began playing football. Throughout his career, he experienced dealing with racism but also had an amazing time playing football.
The Importance of Role ModelsMatt's parents always reminded him to avoid violence because it will only escalate things.
His parents taught him the importance of being passionate about educating people, especially kids, about racism.
Matt regrets not playing until the end of the Premier League season because he had injuries at the time.
Remembering His First CoachMatt shares how his coach, Don Astle, almost went bankrupt for keeping the...
CSP13 -The Struggles At Home: Cycles of Domestic Violence with Su Bhuhi MBE Aanchal Women’s Aid was founded by Su Bhuhi when a woman needed support to safeguard her children from being taken to South Asia against her will. Su, a survivor herself, took a stand to help protect the women and her children from further harm. We provide support and services to help people who face challenging life situations so that they can understand their rights and make informed choices. Aanchal continues to grow from strength to strength. We never lose sight of the person that knocks on our door and their needs. We listen and we understand. We have helped over 40,000 women since 1984. Su joins me on the show to discuss The story behind the name ‘Aanchal’ and why the women who use the service chose it. She shares why her move into helping other women was an organic process that was rooted in the love and support of her parents when she was suffering from domestic violence. Su also describes how Aanchal supports women and children who are suffering from domestic violence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We should be able to make our decisions in life, we should be able to learn ... the impact of barriers are just as great today, as they were in the 70s for me." - Su Bhuhi Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Su’s experience of living in different cultures, her experience of diverse ways of living and meeting different people with different beliefs, and values, and why she loves celebrating that experience ● Su’s personal experience of domestic abuse and why she felt so isolated when she was suffering ● How’s Su’s father supported her in her choices despite the norms of the South East Asian community at that time ● The interpretation of the idea of ‘honour’ in South East Asian communities ● Why there are still barriers to women seeking help when they are experiencing domestic abuse ● The training that Aanchal undertakes with institutions to help them recognise domestic abuse ● Why COVID-19 has exacerbated violence in the home Connect with Su Bhuhi: ● https://aanchal.org.uk/ (Aanchal Women’s Aid Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/aanchalwa/ (Aanchal Women’s Aid on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/aanchal_uk (Aanchal Women’s Aid on Twitter) ● https://www.instagram.com/aanchalwomensaid/ (Aanchal Women’s Aid on Instagram) Connect with The Community Safety Podcast: ● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP12 - John Hayward Cripps John is a former director and interim CEO of Victim Support and has worked for various charities at senior levels across England for over 20 years. John’s aim as CEO of Neighbourhood Watch is to build on the fantastic history and achievements and help the movement move forward to gain new and diverse membership and strengthen communities by embracing modern technology while keeping true to the foundations of Neighbourhood Watch. John joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to share how fantastic the Neighbourbood Watch volunteers are and how just ordinary members of the community are doing extraordinary things. He describes how he has been careful to ensure that those people who aren't online have stayed connected within neighborhood watch and their community. John also shares how Neighbourhood Watch makes it easier to volunteer whether they want to dip in and out of projects or make a longer-term commitment. "We all actually live in our communities and are there all the time. So the information I think the volunteers can provide to the police is invaluable.." - John Hayward Cripps Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● John’s strong sense of community and why helping his community was a strong part of how he grew up ● His career as a youth worker and a social worker working closely with police forces investigating child protection issues ● What kind of people volunteer for Neighbourhood Watch ● Why there has there's been an upsurge in people wanting to get involved, and how they have facilitated that during the pandemic ● The importance of the relationship between the Police and the Neighbourhood Watch ● Current Neighbourhood Watch projects Connect with John Hayward Cripps: ● https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/ (Neighbourhood Watch Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/ourwatch/ (Neighbourhood Watch on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/n_watch (Neighbourhood Watch on Twitter) ● https://www.instagram.com/neighbourhood.watch.insta/ (Neighbourhood Watch on Instagram) Connect with The Community Safety Podcast: ● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP11 - Carl Chinn MBE Ph.D Carl Chinn, MBA Ph.D. Carl is a social historian with a national profile, a writer, a teacher, an animator, and a public speaker. He was formerly a professor of Community History at the University of Birmingham, and director of Birmingham Lives Project collecting working-class memories as a freelance social historian. He gives history tours of Birmingham and collaborates on local history projects in several schools. He's the author of 34 books, his latest words are Peaky Blinders: The Real Story, the true history of Birmingham's most notorious gangs, which was a Sunday Times number one bestseller. Carl joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to discuss why we should be valuing every young person and finding the challenge for everyone in our community whatever their talents and passions. He shares why we still need a radical transformation of our educational system to allow all young people to find their niche. Carl also discusses his historical interest in gangs in 1900’s Birmingham, and his research for the book Peaky Blinders: The Real Story. "It should be local people that are pushing everything forward, not outsiders, ... we've got to start promoting young working-class talents from all the backgrounds in Birmingham." - Carl Chinn Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Carl’s perspective on growing up in a large storytelling family in Birmingham ● Who were the ‘gaffers’ of the street in Aston in the 1950s and 1960s and how they were the anchors of the community at the time ● How we can appreciate all sorts of skills and work to spotlight non-academic talents ● Why we shouldn’t be snobbish about academic education ● Perceptions about class and accent and why we should look beyond them to see value in people ● The truth behind the TV series Peaky Blinders, and why they were not gentleman criminals but vicious thugs ● Why it is so critical to provide opportunities for young people to avoid being drawn into crime in the 21st century ● Carl’s views on how we can eradicate some of the violence on our streets Connect with Carl Chinn: ● Carl Chinn on LinkedIn
● https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peaky-Blinders-Birminghams-notorious-Bestseller/dp/1789461723 (Peaky Blinders: The Real Story )by Carl Chinn Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP10- Susanne Knabe-Nichol Dr Susanne Knabe-Nichol is an Investigative Psychologist and founder of https://www.policesciencedr.com/ (Police Science Dr). She translates research findings into videos that can easily be understood by those without academic journal subscriptions or a degree in psychology or criminology. She has an MSc and a PhD in Investigative Psychology, and interviews academics, police professionals, and others who can provide value through sharing their knowledge and experience, and publish these as videos. Suzanne has an extensive background in working with UK police forces, in roles as varied as Police Community Support Officer, Investigator, Researcher, and Improvement & Evaluations Coordinator. Suzanne joins me on the show to share when she first noticed a need for a platform that combines academic research in the field of policing with the ease of access and digestibility for operational officers. She discusses how she combined her academic career with the practical side of policing and the insight both of those roles gave her when creating Police Science Dr. Suzanne also shares her thoughts with me on her views on mental health in policing and what issues and concerns that she has come across in her research. "There's so much knowledge that's being shared by academics amongst academics — which is very frustrating because it's actually the operational officers who are working in policing on the streets and with people, with members of the public, with victims, with offenders, who need to know about it." - Suzanne Knabe-Nichol Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Suzanne’s practical experience of working as a police community support officer in Notting Hill, London, with the Metropolitan Police ● How and why Suzanne combined her career in academic research with the practicalities of policing ● The importance of leaders in the Police Force recognising when team members need help and support with their mental health and acting to care for their team and signpost them to appropriate services ● We dive into Evidence-Based Policing, what does it mean and what does it entail? ● Whether Suzanne has found through her research that the police are efficient at sharing effective projects and initiatives early or whether Police Forces tend to hold back from sharing new ideas ● Why it is vital to give complex issues around policing time to embed and develop Connect with Suzanne Knabe-Nichol: ● https://www.policesciencedr.com/resources (Police Science Dr. Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/PoliceScienceDr/ (Police Science Dr. on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/PoliceScienceDr (Police Science Dr. on Twitter) ● https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliceScienceDr (Police Science Dr. on YouTube) ● Suzanne Knable-Nichol on LinkedIn
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP9 - Alison Cope The biggest trauma Alison Cope has ever faced was losing her son Joshua to knife crime in 2013, but she uses her resilience and strength to educate and support others in seeing a future beyond negative experiences. Alison presents the Joshua Ribera Achievement Awards that recognises and celebrates the achievements of young people who are not in mainstream education. Alison has also worked with West Midlands Police, Staffordshire Police, Hertfordshire Police, and Crimestoppers along with keynote speaking and lecturing at Birmingham and Nottingham universities Alison joins me on the podcast to share how Joshua had turned his life around and had evolved from writing about violence to focusing on positivity, working hard, and loving his family. She discusses why negative imagery in music is so dangerous to children and young people and why it is such a problem that it is so widely available on social media. Alison also share with me what happened on the day in September 2013 when Josh was murdered, and the moment that she realised how powerful her voice could be and why she decided to devote her life to helping young people "It’s Joshua’s life that inspires and his death educates. My focus isn't Joshua's death, my focus is Joshua's life, and to inspire young people to see a future with hope, regardless of their past.." - Alison Cope Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Alison’s upbringing and why it gave her the strength and determination to fight forwards ● Why the traumas that Alison faced growing up helped her to help Joshua, and see past challenging behaviour and see to the core of a young person ● The traumatic event that threw Joshua off the rails at 13 years old ● Elements that led to Joshua’s custodial sentence and why Alison feels that it was a blessing in disguise ● Joshua’s involvement in the grime scene and how he became so successful as a lyricist ● Alison’s feelings about the man who killed her son and why she would like to meet him ● Alison’s thoughts on how to reduce knife crime in this country and how she works with young people to change the mindset around violence Connect with Alison Cope: ● https://www.facebook.com/staffordshirepolice/videos/248878720256497/ (Ditch the Blade) ● https://www.facebook.com/alison.cope.12 (Alison Cope on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/ali_cope (Alison Cope on Twitter) ● Alison Cope on LinkedIn
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP8 - Sharon Bryan For the last 23 years, Sharon Bryan has worked in the field of domestic abuse. She is also a survivor of domestic abuse. In 2020. Sharon set up Sharon Bryan consultancy, a community interest company which involves running the Freedom Programme for women who have experienced domestic abuse. In January 2021, Sharon joined the award-winning National Centre for Domestic Violence as head of partnerships and development for domestic abuse services. Sharon joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to explain what life is like living with an abusive partner and why she stayed in an abusive relationship for so long. She describes the purpose of her new role working for the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) and why the organisation feels it is so vital to build partnerships with other organisations that come into contact with people that are experiencing domestic abuse in their role. Sharon also shares her concerns that domestic violence is still so prevalent and why the NCDV is so committed to making it completely socially unacceptable. "I try to be the person that I wish had been there for me and wasn't. Because it's a very, very lonely place when you don't know who to talk to. You don't know if you'll be believed. You can be in a room full of people and feel like you're the only person in there." - Sharon Bryan Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● When and why Sharon’s husband’s violent behaviour escalated and what she had in common with other sufferers of domestic violence ● The awful catalyst that led to Sharon fleeing her marriage ● The trauma that children experience when they are caught up in abusive relationships ● How the Assist Database works to help police assist victims of domestic violence ● Sharon’s advice for somebody that is experiencing what she went through ● Sharon’s role as a facilitator for the https://www.freedomprogramme.co.uk/ (Freedom Programme) and how it gives women the tools that they need to identify abusive behavior Connect with Sharon Bryan: ● https://www.facebook.com/Sharonbryanconsult/ (Sharon Bryan Consultancy on Facebook) ● Sharon Bryan on LinkedIn
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP7 - Dee Kelly Deirdre "Dee" Kelly, also known as White Dee, is a British TV personality and actor. In 2014 and 2015, she appeared in the TV documentary series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benefits_Street (Benefits Street), and in 2014 she took part in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_Big_Brother_14_(UK) (Celebrity Big Brother). She plays Liz in the 2019 film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_%26_Liz (Ray & Liz), directed by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Billingham (Richard Billingham). In 2014, Kelly spoke at a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_Exchange (Policy Exchange) fringe meeting at the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party_Conference (Conservative Party Conference) in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham (Birmingham) and is currently the Co-Director of https://www.birminghamsaysno.com/ (Birmingham Says No to Knife Crime and Youth Violence). Dee joins me on the Community Safety Podcast today to share her experience of growing up as part of a close-knit community in Birmingham in the 1970s. She discusses the Benefit Street documentary and its impact on her life, both positive and negative, and why she felt she ultimately had to move away from James Street. Dee also shares her experiences in setting up the Birmingham Says No to Knife Crime and Youth Violence community organisation and their plans to stop the epidemic by empowering young people with options and opportunities. "We've just got to hope that people do come together because I do think people power will make a change." - Dee Kelly Today on The Community Safety Podcast: ● Why Dee feels that the sense of a close-knit community in Birmingham has been lost ● Why it is so vital to protect young people’s mental health and how we can start doing it more effectively ● What postcode wars are, and how we can change things and knock these barriers down ● Why preaching to kids about antisocial behaviour doesn't work and what we should be doing instead ● What we can do to mend the relationship between the police and their service users in Birmingham ● The epidemic of knife crime in Birmingham and Dee’s opinion on how we can work to solve the problem ● Dee’s view on early intervention and how to spot at-risk young people and effectively help them Connect with Dee Kelly: ● https://www.birminghamsaysno.com/ (Birmingham Says No Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/therealdeekelly/ (Dee Kelly on Facebook) ● Dee Kelly on Twitter
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook) ● https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter) https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP6 - Caroline Goode Caroline Goode served for 33 years in the Metropolitan Police in London. She retired as a Detective Superintendent in the Counter-Terrorism Command after spending ten years leading more than 100 complex murder investigations. One of those investigations, the so-called honour killing of a young Iraqi Kurdish woman by her family, was to become a life changer for Caroline. This investigation, which began as a simple missing person’s report, was particularly challenging and complex. After the Banaz case, she trained thousands of police officers nationally and internationally in Honour Based Violence Awareness and was awarded the Queens Policing Medal for her work in 2012. Caroline joins me today to detail the damage that honour-based violence still does to women in the UK and explains her role in the shocking murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod, which was subsequently dramatised in the TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honour_(TV_series) (Honour starring Keeley Hawes). She shares her experience of joining the Metropolitan Police as an 18-year-old woman and some of the challenges she faced at the start of her career. Caroline also discusses why she looked to progress her career in the Metropolitan Police in complex investigative work and why she has always preferred to work in teams that support victims. "We need to keep raising awareness of honour-based violence about it in whichever format we can - there needs to be a wholly consistent approach, or we’re going to end up in a situation where these murders continue to happen ." - Caroline Goode Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
How Caroline's interest in becoming a detective began with a traumatic experience
Why she fought to get maternity regulations changed in the Metropolitan Police
Caroline's first role as a Senior Investigating Officer and the investigation that changed her life
The story of Caroline’s involvement in the horrific Banaz Mahmod case and the eureka moment that eventually helped her team to bring her murderers to justice
The difficulty of extraditing two of Banaz’s killers from Iraqui Kurdistan and how Caroline made legal history during the process
Connect with Caroline Goode:
https://www.amazon.com/Honour-Achieving-Justice-Banaz-Mahmod/dp/1786075458 (Honour: Achieving Justice for Banaz Mahmod) by Caroline Goode
https://oneworld-publications.com/caroline-goode.html (Caroline Goode Website)
https://twitter.com/carolinejgoode (Caroline Goode on Twitter)
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
https://www.thecommunitysafetypodcast.co.uk/ (The Community Safety Podcast Website)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/359655268492057 (The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook)
https://twitter.com/jimnixonasb/status/1320439301935693834 (The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter)
https://www.patreon.com/thecommunitysafetypodcast (★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★)
CSP5 - Nazir Afzal
Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, and most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24 year career, he has prosecuted some of the most high-profile cases in the country, including the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, and led nationally on several legal topics, notably violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honor-based violence. Nazir was recently appointed to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and is National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence to the Welsh Government.
Nazir joins me today to discuss his experience of growing up in inner-city Birmingham and why it could be a frightening place for his family and community. He shares what he found so fulfilling about working in the Crown Prosecution Service and how a move to London allowed him to build his skill set, develop and grow. Nazir also describes his involvement in the Rochdale case, the bravery of the young women giving evidence, and why it subsequently triggered a change in guidelines for cross-examinations in sensitive cases.
"The real answers come from within the community." - Nazir Afzal
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
- Nazir's experience of racism and hate crime as a teenager and a professional
- The lightbulb moment that drew Nazir towards becoming a lawyer.
- The opportunity that allowed him to pursue a more even work-life balance
- Why Nazir had to have a panic alarm installed in his house at one point and how that affected his life and his career
- The case that stands out in Nazir's mind and how it was brought to a successful conclusion by a diverse team of professionals
- Nazir's thoughts on how to break the cycle of imprisonment and criminal behaviour
- Some of the positives that have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic
Connect with Nazir Afzal:
- Nazir Afzal Website
- Nazir Afzal on LinkedIn
- Nazir Afzal on Twitter
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
- The Community Safety Podcast Website
- The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook
- The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
CSP4 - John Sutherland
John joined the Metropolitan Police in 1992, where he served for 25 years across seven London boroughs in a range of ranks and roles, including as Borough Commander and Chief Superintendent. He published Blue: A Memoir – Keeping The Peace And Falling To Pieces in 2017, an account of more than 20 years on the front line of policing and the highs and lows that a life in uniform can bring. John is also a sought-after media commentator on policing issues on TV and radio and writes on the topic for several national newspapers.
John joins me today to share details of why he feels that good quality, neighbourhood community policing is the key to transforming communities. He discusses the impact of austerity on neighbourhood policing and the individual pressure on him that ultimately led to his early retirement.
John also describes why societal problems, like domestic violence, or drugs, or mental health, are often a generation or more in the making and why they require a significant shift in mindset from politician down to grassroots level
“We as police officers are a part of the communities that we serve. policing is something that that is best done with the community, not to the community.”- John Sutherland
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
● How John enjoyed policing in his first few years, some of the jobs he did when he first joined the police force
● Why he feels that his real policing journey and life education started when he was sent to Brixton
● The importance of combination formal education and learning by experience as a police officer
● Whether John thinks the police get partnership work right and how consistent relationships that are built up and sustained over years help achieve joint goals
● John’s views on how we could tackle the mental health problem better in the UK
● Where we should be investing in long term solutions that take into account root causes to prevent history from repeating itself
● Why early intervention is so crucial in fixing social problems in the longer term
Connect with John Sutherland:
● John Sutherland Police Commander Blog
● John Sutherland on LinkedIn
● John Sutherland on Twitter
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● The Community Safety Podcast Website
● The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook
● The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★