The Community Safety Podcast Jim Nixon

Community Safety gets talked about a lot, however, what does it really mean?



Let's find out with Community Safety Community Safety Consultant-Chris Williams.



Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.

Dr. Paul Stewart is a distinguished individual with a remarkable journey that extends beyond his career as a Premier League footballer.

 

In 2016, he courageously stepped into the spotlight to disclose a deeply personal and painful experience from his youth.

Paul revealed that he had been a victim of sexual abuse by his football coach from the tender age of 10 to 14.

His decision to share this profound and difficult truth not only showcased his resilience but also opened up important discussions about safeguarding young athletes and addressing the issue of abuse within the world of sports.

Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.

 

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 informative 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 who is the ex-Chief of Boston
and Seattle Police Departments and also the first Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate in Ireland, established to ensure that Garda operates effectively and efficiently. 

Today The Community Safety Podcast explores policing and good quality leadership.



Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.

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