Technology and how we can use it to make communities safer with Matt Polega from Mark43

Matt is the Co-founder and Head of Marketing Communications and Public Policy at Mark43.

Matt developed the earliest version of Mark43 records management system with his Co-founders as a recent college graduate and remains deeply focused on the mission of building culture edge software to support first responders and bridge the gap between the communities they serve.

Matt often shares best practise on public safety technology, ensuring agencies of all sizes understand how to navigate the digital age.   He has done so as a featured blogger for Gov loop and another panellist at the Code for America summit.  His leadership has lead Mark43 to be included on a notable list, including Ink Space Workplaces, Fast Company's World Changing Ideas, and America's Security Today's Homeland Security Awards. 

“Community safety and law enforcement we totally recognise as a team sport. It is about a bunch of agencies working together to share information working in  partnership. I'm very proud of the pace that we are moving, the ethos that we bring to building products and how we think about it and I'm proud of how many people we put on the ground it's actually learning the real problem and seeing what every person in the agency go through if we can bring some of that bigger to the market and get everybody to come to start paying attention to these problems that maybe we have half the chance.” Matt Polega

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• Matt’s journey growing up in Chicago, going to Harvard University and being a Hammer Thrower.
• How Mark43 came about, working with Massachusetts State Police.
• The evolution of the Mark43 portfolio, from Business Intelligence and Analysis (Tier 2) and Management System.
• Working with the first UK police force - Cumbria Constabulary.
• The difference in complexity between working US or UK agencies.
• Helping alleviate the pressure on police officers
• Mark43 grand plan to help make communities safer
• Helping make police officers more visible and out on the streets.

Connect with Matt Polega:

• Matt Polega LinkedIn 
• Mark43 Website

Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      https://www.instagram.com/the_community_safety_podcast

Supporting Victims of Anti-Social Behaviour with Charlie Hamilton-Kay from ASB Help.

Charlie Hamilton Kay is a specialist victim project manager at the ASB charity ASB Help. Charlie joined the team in July 2021 she previously worked as an ASB practitioner within Derbyshire victim services providing practical and emotional support to victims of ASB.  As well as led the development of several projects to raise the profile of ASB within communities and the impact that it has on its victims. Charlie studied psychology at the University of Northumbria and takes a keen interest in the motivations of compulsions behind anti-social behaviour.   She hopes that by understanding more about the reasons behind ASB we can effectively tackle it.

“It is absolutely key that we get support services available to victims of ASB.  They feel like they have nowhere to go to escape from it which can do a lot of damage to a person both mentally and physically.  It is important that within our communities we have some way of offering that emotional support to the people who are going through it”.  Charlie Hamilton-Kay

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• Born and raised in Bakewell, a country girl at heart.  Charlie explains her upbringing in Bakewell, University of Northumbria and coming back to Bakewell. 
• What motivated Charlie to want to help people?
• How she drilled down various jobs ending up in victim support for 4 years to get to her current role at ASB Help.
• What ASB Help stands for and the role they play within the community. 
• Describing her typical day-to-day role as a Specialist Victim Project Manager.
• Common themes on how cases are being managed and where they are going wrong.
• The importance of problem-solving.
• What is a ‘Community Trigger'?
• What is the ASB Pledge and how organisations can get involved?

Connect with Charlie Hamilton-Kay:

• Charlie Hamilton-Kay LinkedIn
• ASB Help Website
• Email:  [email protected]

Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      https://www.instagram.com/the_community_safety_podcast

Young People are our Future-Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour with David Aynsley

David Ainsley grew up in his early years on RAF bases and experienced some very interesting experiences in places like Bahrain. Growing up, he went on to serve for the British Army and had some very interesting stints in places like Belfast. 

David later joined the police service in Cornwall. Where he eventually became a community police Sergeant. He was doing some fantastic work changing communities for the better by working with young people, and putting in a different approach to community policing produced some actual results.

“If you can find a reason to get people in a room and just listen to what they have to say, you are halfway there to come up with a solution to the problem.  All people want is someone to listen to them”. David Aynsley

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• David shares his early years of growing up on an airforce base, ending up in boarding school. Then, ending up in Belfast, where he first experienced anti-social behaviour.
• David describes the two attempted murders in his life.
• The extraordinary levels of anti-social behaviour
• The realisation that the more the police force did by arresting children/youth, the worse anti-social behaviour got
• Dealing with criticism from local authorities/councils wanting the police to go back to ‘traditional policing.’
• Benefits of doing intensive work with children/youth leading to lower ASB

Connect with David Aynsley:

• David Aynsley LinkedIn 

Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      https://www.instagram.com/the_community_safety_podcast

Gambling Addiction and the harm it causes people and communities with Mark Murray

Mark Murray, placed his first bet at the age of 16, something that started off as a bit of fun quickly turned into an addiction over 13 years.  

Mark gambled every day and built up debt with the wrong sort of people.  He was attacked with a hammer and ran off to a different country to try and escape his debt.  Mark had a number of failed suicide attempts and was kidnapped at the age of 29.

Mark finally got the help that he needed and now has gone 9 years without placing a bet and is the Co-Founder of the charity WHYSUP.

“To anyone who might be listening to this podcast, that has got a family member or friend that might be going through addiction. When you are going through it, it's the worst thing in the world.  It doesn't have to be gambling, but if it's having a massive impact on your life and you are thinking this is never going to get better and there is no way out.  One thing I would like to make clear is there is always a way out, there are always people, even if you’ve lost every family member, and every friend there are always people that will help you.  There are people who will open their doors and will help you fight, so don’t feel alone or feel like the only way out is to take your own life”. Mark Murray

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• Mark will share his experience of becoming a dad at an early age.
• How he dealt with the fallout within the family
• Relationship with gambling ‘the all or nothing relationship’
• The reason why people may turn to gambling, and why they use it as a way out.  
• The moment when Mark had to flee for his life
• Being kidnapped at the age of 29
• The defining moment when Mark finally had enough and went to rehab.

Connect with Mark Murray:

• Mark Murray LinkedIn 
• WHYSUP Website
• WHYSUP Facebook 
• WHYSUP Twitter
• WHYSUP Instagram
• WHYSUP Youtube
• WHYSUP Company LinkedIn

Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      https://www.instagram.com/the_community_safety_podcast

Escaping Domestic Abuse with Gi Dhanoa

Gi Dhanoa embarked on becoming a full-time entrepreneur in 2020 when she began to realise her full potential; within. She's a published Amazon author for her book Forgiven Forgotten, Sooooo a poetry book raising awareness on Domestic Abuse and Mental Health. Gi is an ambassador for Aanchal Women's Aid which helps support women to rebuild their lives after abuse. Allowing her to use her first-hand experience positively to help inspire others to overcome being in a volatile relationship.

It is so vital that we keep raising awareness around this really serious subject and get different guests' perspectives and their own experiences around Domestic Abuse.  For example, Gi escaped an abusive and coercive relationship after several years.  She fled with her daughter and is now making an incredible life herself as a property developer, poet and author.

“If I could change one life or help one person to take that first step of coming out of a toxic domestic relationship, that would mean the world to me”.  - Gi Dhanoa

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• Gi on why she gave up on her life in the Uk to start a new life in Jamaica
• The importance of teaching children what a healthy relationship looks like
• Implications around mental health
• A turning point where Gi realised she needed to get out 'wake-up call'
• Showing up for yourself - learning self-respect, self-love and deserving more out of life
• What is a toxic relationship?
• What does 'learned behaviour mean'
• Ambassador of Aanchal Women's Aid
• Inspiration for writing her first poetry book 'Forgotten, Forgiven, Sooooo
• The importance of sharing consequences and coming together as a community to end violence against women and girls.
• Gi's end goal of help children within the system
• Aspiring property management 'Ottilie Solutions'

Connect with Gi Dhanoa:

• Gi Dhanoa Linktree
• Purchase Forgiven, Forgotten, Sooooo 
• Gi Dhanoa Instagram
• Gi Dhanoa LinkedIn
• Ottilie Solutions  

Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      https://www.instagram.com/the_community_safety_podcast

Violence on our streets and the devastation it causes with Adam Fouracre

Adam Fouracre is the founder and CEO of the charity Stand Against Violence.   Adam founded the charity in 2005 following the murder of his brother Lloyd.  He has over 14 years of experience in violence prevention through primary investigations and the charity sector, from management development to business strategy, fundraising, and public speaking.

Adam joins me to discuss the violence in our streets and highlights the devastating impact that it has on the families affected and also the wider community.  Adam Fouracre lost his brother as a teenager following a mindless attack.

"We had an independent evaluation done by the Centre for Public Health in 2014.  As a result, they found that young people were significantly less likely to resort to violence as a means of conflict resolution after our involvement, sustained for a six-week follow-up.  So there's some longevity in the attitude change for achieving.  We've continued to do that evaluation without the six-week follow-up; 94% of those are less likely to engage in violence, whether as a perpetrator or being around violence to risk becoming a victim, we've potentially saved quite a few lives”.  Adam Fouracre

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• Adam’s experience growing up in a sheltered childhood in a small village called Kingston St. Mary
• Growing up with his brother Lloyd and the tragic moments leading up to the tragic loss of his brother Lloyd. 
• Missed opportunities within the criminal justice system and the importance of early intervention, spotting the signs in early childhood and the importance of dealing with early childhood trauma
• The significant impact on the levels of violence but anti-social behaviour 
• Adam’s encounter in meeting Teressa May (then Home Security)
• Barriers faced when dealing with legal jargon
• What does it mean by ‘Joint Enterprise Charge’ mean? 
• How did Jay become part of the book ‘When September Ends
• What does ‘forgiveness’ mean to Adam
• How he overcame his grief of losing a sibling
• How domestic abuse can impact children's lives
• About Stand Against Violence - working with communities throughout the UK gives people a chance to live in a world without violence

Connect with Adam Fouracre: 

Adam Fouracre on LinkedIn

Adam Fouracre on Twitter

Stand Against Violence 

Purchase Adam Fouracre and Dave Urwin's book ‘When September Ends’ 

Amazon Smile UK

Connect with The Community Safety Podcast: 

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast Website

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      

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

●      TheCommunity Safety Podcast on Facebook

●      The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter

The criminal justice system exists to create better and safer communities for everyone. People who commit serious crimes are sentenced to prison for them to reflect on their actions, and hopefully, come out better.

In today’s special episode, we ask the question: Can criminals reform? What are the circumstances that led them to a life of crime in the first place? What realisations can bouncing in and out of the prison system bring? And how can prison reform address issues on criminality? Having spent the majority of his adult life in prison, our guest sheds light on these questions and more.  

David Breakspear, a former career criminal and prisoner, candidly shares his life story with us. At the age of 10, he committed his first criminal offence which led to crimes that went on for four decades. Now, David does amazing work on prison reform and transforming communities. Indeed, prisoners aren’t inherently bad people and everyone is capable of change. It's about having the right mindset to move forward in life. With his experience of the criminal justice system, David shares his thoughts on prison reform and working towards what is best for the majority. 

Listen to this episode to learn more about the life of a prisoner and what it takes to push for prison reform!

1. Discover how the criminal justice system has affected prisoners’ lives.
2. Learn the importance of prison reform.
3. David shares his experience from his first criminal offence and how his prison life transformed his life.

• Check out the Noise App!
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• Contact David LinkedIn | Blog | Website
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• A Father’s Son by David Breakspear

• David’s home life was quite happy. He grew up in a large family in the southeast of England.
• His adverse childhood experiences stem from sexual abuse away from home at age eight. 
• He and his mate used to go to a toy shop owned by their abuser. At that time, even though it didn’t feel right, they didn’t think the abuse was wrong. 
• So, they kept coming back. They also took advantage of the shop’s layout to steal some toys.

• David never opened up about his experience to his family. 
• Two years after the abuse, he contracted viral meningitis. 
• At this period, David felt lost. He frequently experienced panic attacks and had trouble sleeping.
• He was never comfortable away from home because he’d be too distressed and upset.
• David also...