David Lloyd Williams:  “A safe town is one where everyone feels secure”

A local councillor in Malton, Yorkshire (United Kingdom), specialising in policing and security issues, David Lloyd Williams underlines the importance of partnerships between all local services, the public and the police in preventing crime and improving security.    

Interview, 9 April 2008

Question: The Congress has just held a seminar in Genoa (Italy) on partnerships between local authorities, police and civil society, a subject that is particularly close to your heart. What message did you want to convey to your colleagues at this event?

David Lloyd Williams: I live in the safest district not just in Yorkshire but in the whole of the UK and I don’t think there is anything coincidental about that:  for a long time now, we’ve been pursuing a crime and anti-social behaviour prevention policy based mainly on ongoing dialogue between all local services, the police and members of the public.  Local police officers have been specifically assigned to deal with youth issues and we have made a point of bringing together all the local services and local associations to talk about security: for example, we involve the fire brigade, the national parks department, the education authorities and the judiciary. This facilitates dialogue and makes it easier to spot problems early. My personal credo is that it is not enough to make towns safe by combating crime, and that people also need to talk to one another, feel safe and stop being afraid.  Fear actually encourages crime because it poses a threat to social cohesion.

            

Question: Can you give us some practical examples of how this policy works in your town?

David Lloyd Williams: In Malton, there used to be lots of young people hanging around the streets, making a noise and disturbing the neighbours, all of which created a degree of tension.  The police officer in charge of youth met with the youngsters concerned, and a community-wide appeal was launched to provide them with a proper meeting place where they could chat, skate-board and generally spend time together without annoying anyone, and where they themselves would be safe. This is one practical instance of partnership and dialogue but there are many more: for example, the fire brigade takes part in initiatives to prevent road accidents and speeding. Similarly, the education authorities and the Catholic Church in Malton run English language classes in the evenings for immigrants from central and eastern Europe, to help them integrate into the local community. For us, the emphasis is always on working together and dialogue.

Question: What specifically can the Congress do to promote security-based partnerships of this kind throughout Europe?

David Lloyd Williams: The Congress should disseminate all the papers presented at the seminar in Genoa, as there are many interesting initiatives that could be replicated elsewhere. I would like to see the Congress holding an annual seminar of this kind on local partnerships and security, because this is an ever-evolving area in which the Congress can and should play a major role.