Press release
West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance – Creating Safe and Healthy Futures
A conference is taking place in Birmingham today dedicated to preventing violence across the region.
The conference has been organised by the West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance – a group of high profile organisations led by Public Heath England and West Midlands Police committed to breaking the cycle of violence which is seen on streets and in homes across the West Midlands every day.
Entitled ‘Creating Safe and Healthy Futures’, the event is part of the group’s overall strategy of approaching violence from a public health perspective.
The day brings together public service leaders, influencers and shapers to discuss opportunities available across a range of agencies around identifying risks, intervening and working closer together in the future.
Those presenting at the conference include Chief Constable Dave Thompson, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Chair of University Hospital Birmingham and Heart of England Foundation Trust and Dr Eamonn O’Moore, the National Health and Justice Lead for Public Health England.
Dave Thompson, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, said: “By working together across the public sector and targeting the root causes of violence we can make the West Midlands a safer place to live and work in.
“Events like today’s conference are a fantastic opportunity for partners to come together and get some real plans in place to improve how we work together going forward.”
“Prevention should be at the heart of all public services work including the police. I am committed to unifying the approach of our public services and the alliance is an important part of this.”
The closing speaker, Dr Sue Ibbotson, Public Health England’s (PHE) Director in the West Midlands, said: “Today’s event provides a wonderful opportunity for agencies to come together and share their experience and learning.
“The commitment of organisations to the West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance enables us to achieve results through partnership working that we would never be able to realise by only working through our own organisations.
“I am confident that the conference will enable all involved in this important work to create safer and healthier futures for people in the West Midlands.”
The West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance is supported by the West Midlands Directors of Public Health, by Public Health England, and by leaders of NHS, criminal justice, education and voluntary organisations. It was set up in June 2014 using funding from West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and with the support of West Midlands Police and Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands.
