The covid pandemic has proved to be only a break in crimes of violence in the UK: football hooliganism has resumed, inside and outside stadia; the Euro tournament final at Wembley was marred in July by widespread disorder as ticketless fans tried with some success to get inside the ground; and seaside places in particular have looked to public space protection orders (PSPOs) and more police patrols to combat drunken anti-social behaviour as more people have holidayed at home due to travel restrictions due to coronavirus. All this featured in the August print edition of Professional Security magazine.
The police play a significant part in reducing violence, but the service does not ‘own’ the issue. A public health approach requires a contribution from numerous agencies – including, but not exclusively, education, social services, health, justice and charities. That is the message of one of the speakers at the Security TWENTY event on October 5, ST21 Glasgow, at the Hilton Hotel in William Street.
He is Niven Rennie, director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU). A former chief superintendent, he argues that despite pockets of good work and more understanding, society’s approach to violence still remains reactive. He says: “In policing terms, our focus tends to concentrate on a response to crimes after they have occurred – detection, support for victims, punishment and retribution. With high levels of demand to contend with, policing has understandably prioritised response. A public health approach emphasises prevention.”
In a word, Rennie and the SVRU proposes a public health approach to the deep roots of violence.
Background
Whether to guard against claims of man-handling of protesters and demonstrators, or to de-escalate confrontation, security officers are increasingly being issued with body worn cameras, just as police on patrol are routinely equipped with body worn. Likewise the Canal and River Trust reports that it’s starting to equip its boat licence customer support staff with body-worn video, for work on towpaths in and around London. The trust which looks after waterways in England and Wales, makes the point that its staff are often lone workers, and that while violence and aggression against staff is rare, it is on the increase (as in other settings in the UK).
More in the November 2021 print edition of Professional Security magazine. Pictured; the ST19 Glasgow conference; the 2020 event could not go ahead due to covid.
