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Introduction to the Network

Who we are

The Wales Safer Communities Network was established to foster safer communities across Wales. We offer direct support and assistance, work collaboratively and enable continuous professional development for community safety practitioners.

Our vision is to achieve safer, stronger and more resilient communities across Wales.

 

Our mission is to champion and support practitioners, influence national policy and inform practitioners to enhance local delivery to ensure safer communities.

We will achieve this through our values. To be:

  • A trusted national voice on community safety
  • Inclusive and collaborative
  • Evidence led
  • Open, responsive and pro-active
  • Prevention and early intervention focused

 

What we do

We provide comprehensive guidance, support and resources to community safety practitioners and other professionals. We foster partnerships, promote training opportunities and facilitate knowledge sharing to enhance community safety activity across Wales.

We act as the collective voice of community safety practitioners across Wales, acting as an independent arbiter where necessary to represent their challenges, successes and viewpoints to policy makers across Welsh and UK Governments.

We know that community safety takes different forms across Wales, both in terms of priority issues and local approaches. We also know that the ability to tackle the causes and consequences of these issues requires strong partnership working. Sharing knowledge and information, raising awareness of the importance of community safety, as well as bringing people together is at the heart of the Network’s aim – to create a community of support for all those involved in community safety.

Our members are key partners involved in community safety delivery in Wales, including Local Government, Policing in Wales, Welsh Government, Fire and Rescue Services, Public Health, Probation, and Third Sector. In addition, we work closely with local Community Safety Partnerships. The Network is currently hosted by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).

 

Background of the Network

The Network was established in January 2021 as a joint response by Welsh Government, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Policing in Wales, following the publication of the Welsh Government’s review of community safety partnership working in Wales.

The Working Together for Safer Communities Review 2017 set out a vision for community safety in Wales driven by a collaborative and integrated multiagency approach, so that every community is strong, safe and confident. This vision was founded on a shared responsibility of government, public and third sector agencies to work together to address harmful, anti-social and unlawful behaviour.

This was envisaged to be:

  • Evidence-based and intelligence led
  • Supported by appropriate skills and knowledge
  • Sustainably resourced and locally appropriate
  • Preventative and intervening as early as possible
  • Focused on long-term improvements and benefits

The establishment of a Safer Communities Network was recommended as a key part of this approach, and it has evolved into an important part of the partnership landscape in Wales.

The Network is overseen by the Safer Communities Board for Wales Executive Board, who provide joint governance between Local Government, Policing in Wales and Welsh Government. The network team provides input to the Board, whose aim is to ensure effective shared leadership that supports local partnership working and promotes safe, strong, confident communities.

Meet the Team

Mark has been with the Network for three years, joining on a secondment from the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s team where he was Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mark brings a wealth of public and private sector experience, having spent ten years in the cable and telecoms industry before joining South Wales Police twenty years ago. In that time Mark has gained experience in project management, policy development and partnership working, including chairing the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Public Service Board, South Wales Criminal Justice Board and as a director at FORCardiff.

Mark’s focus for the Network reflects his deep commitment to support practitioners and all those involved in community safety, to build strong local collaborative partnerships that make a real difference to communities across Wales.

Helen has played a pivotal role in the Network for over four years, starting as Support Officer and progressing to her current role as Policy and Partnership Manager. With thirteen years of prior experience in Policing in Wales, she brings a strong understanding of partnership working, strategic policy development, and stakeholder engagement across local authorities, Welsh Government, police services, and community organisations.

Helen holds a degree in Sociology and Criminology from Cardiff University and is committed to ensuring that partner voices are heard and reflected in national conversations.

Helen is passionate about supporting the growth and development of the Network and believes in the power of collaboration to create safer communities. She has been involved in various community volunteer programmes and continues to champion inclusive, proactive engagement. Her approach is grounded in openness and a genuine desire to help others connect and thrive within the Network.

Sarah joined the network in 2024 from the Food Standards Agency She brings her experience in communications and event management to this role, including the project management of awards programmes.

Sarah puts our audience at the heart of our communications, ensuring that the Network cuts through the busy noise and tells practitioners what they need to know to help keep communities in Wales safe. She runs the annual Safer Communities Awards celebrating excellence and championing best practice in community safety as well as the Network’s in-person and virtual events. She also looks after the Network’s digital presence, building online resources and a community for those working in community safety.

Sarah has experience working in the public and private sector and moved into communications four years ago after leaving a career in hospitality. She managed high-volume branded restaurants in the UK and internationally, including four years as general manager for the franchised Jamie Oliver restaurants in Bangkok. She was an active board member for the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand, and on her return to the UK joined the Chamber of Commerce in South Wales leading their communications and events programme.

Publications

This is the first annual report for the Wales Safer Communities Network. It is a short report which covers from November 2020 until 31 March 2021 (the Safer Communities Network Team started to operate in January 2021). Future annual reports will provide further information, including an overview of the year from the joint Chairs of the Wales Safer Communities Board, which provides leadership to the work of the Network.

To read the report click here