How does the national charity Crimestoppers work?

CEO Mark Hallas OBE takes us through all the key elements of the service.

Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.

A conversation with Michelle Bauge about her growing up years in Glasgow and how empowering young people makes our communities safer.

Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.

Nazir Afzal  

Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, and most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24 year career, he has prosecuted some of the most high-profile cases in the country, including the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, and led nationally on several legal topics, notably violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse, and honor-based violence. Nazir was recently appointed to the ⁠Independent Press Standards Organisation⁠ (IPSO) and is ⁠National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence⁠ to the Welsh Government.  

Nazir joins me today to discuss his experience of growing up in inner-city Birmingham and why it could be a frightening place for his family and community. He shares what he found so fulfilling about working in the Crown Prosecution Service and how a move to London allowed him to build his skill set, develop and grow. Nazir also describes his involvement in the Rochdale case, the bravery of the young women giving evidence, and why it subsequently triggered a change in guidelines for cross-examinations in sensitive cases.  

 "The real answers come from within the community." - Nazir Afzal 

Today on The Community Safety Podcast: 

• Nazir's experience of racism and hate crime as a teenager and a professional 

• The lightbulb moment that drew Nazir towards becoming a lawyer. 

• The opportunity that allowed him to pursue a more even work-life balance 

• Why Nazir had to have a panic alarm installed in his house at one point and how that affected his life and his career 

• The case that stands out in Nazir's mind and how it was brought to a successful conclusion by a diverse team of professionals  

• Nazir's thoughts on how to break the cycle of imprisonment and criminal behaviour 

• Some of the positives that have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic 

Connect with Nazir Afzal: 

• ⁠Nazir Afzal Website⁠ 
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• ⁠Nazir Afzal on LinkedIn⁠ 
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• ⁠Nazir Afzal on Twitter⁠ 
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Connect with The Community Safety Podcast: 

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• ⁠The Community Safety Podcast Website⁠ 
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• ⁠The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook⁠ 
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• ⁠The Community Safety Podcast on Twitter⁠ 
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The drug war in the UK and worldwide has been going on for a long time. It's not new to see news coverage on buy busts and undercover operations. It makes us more aware of the drug problem, but also lulls us into a false sense of security that things are improving. In reality, these drug busts pose more threats to our community safety.

In this episode, Neil Woods gives a sneak peek into the life of an undercover cop. He shares talks about the futility of the drug war and how it empowers organised crime. So many vulnerable individuals get caught in the crossfire between criminal organisations and the police. Fortunately, Neil shares that there is some change happening. He also details the concrete steps we must take to win this fight against drugs. 

Tune in to this episode to find out the truth about the drug war and what you can do to help end it! 

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

Discover the ugly truth behind drug policy and why it needs to change.

Learn about Neil’s experiences and realisations from working as an undercover cop.

Find out what you can do to aid the social movement against the drug war. 

Resources

• ⁠Noise App⁠
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• Connect with Neil:⁠ ⁠⁠website⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠
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• Grab a copy of Neil’s⁠ Drug Wars⁠ and⁠ Good Cop, Bad War⁠ now!
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• ⁠Why major drug busts don’t work: an undercover cop explains⁠

Episode Highlights

About the Young Neil Woods

• Neil grew up in the middle-class town of Buxton in the Peak District. He admits that he had a sheltered upbringing.
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• He went to university by mistake, thinking he would be interested in Business Studies. He dropped out shortly after.

• While backpacking around Europe, he saw an advertisement for the police in the local newspaper and flipped a coin. The result eventually set him on his career path.

• Wanting to do something different and adventurous every day brought him to policing.

His Early Years in the Police

• At the start, Neil found policing to be a shock. Being a 19-year-old, he was naive and had no experience with handling conflict. 

• He almost got kicked out during his probation and hated the first two years.

• But he wanted to prove to himself that he could get past two years, so he hung on by the skin of his teeth.

How Neil Started Working Undercover

• If you struggle in the police, your colleagues will perceive you as useless and unreliable. Neil experienced this as well.

• To get a fresh start, he moved to another station in Glossop. 

• During that time, in the early to mid-90s, the government pushed police forces to prioritise the drug war.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet is the National Police Lead on Anti-Social Behaviour.

Take a listen to this really honest interview.

Comprehensive Show Notes to Follow.

Caroline Goode served for 33 years in the Metropolitan Police in London. She retired as a Detective Superintendent in the Counter-Terrorism Command after spending ten years leading more than 100 complex murder investigations.

One of those investigations, the so-called honour killing of a young Iraqi Kurdish woman by her family, was to become a life changer for Caroline. This investigation, which began as a simple missing person’s report, was particularly challenging and complex.

After the Banaz case, she trained thousands of police officers nationally and internationally in Honour Based Violence Awareness and was awarded the Queens Policing Medal for her work in 2012.

Caroline joins me today to detail the damage that honour-based violence still does to women in the UK and explains her role in the shocking murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod, which was subsequently dramatised in the TV series Honour starring Keeley Hawes.

She shares her experience of joining the Metropolitan Police as an 18-year-old woman and some of the challenges she faced at the start of her career.

Caroline also discusses why she looked to progress her career in the Metropolitan Police in complex investigative work and why she has always preferred to work in teams that support victims.

"We need to keep raising awareness of honour-based violence about it in whichever format we can - there needs to be a wholly consistent approach, or we’re going to end up in a situation where these murders continue to happen ." - Caroline Goode

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

How Caroline's interest in becoming a detective began with a traumatic experience Why she fought to get maternity regulations changed in the Metropolitan Police Caroline's first role as a Senior Investigating Officer and the investigation that changed her life The story of Caroline’s involvement in the horrific Banaz Mahmod case and the eureka moment that eventually helped her team to bring her murderers to justice The difficulty of extraditing two of Banaz’s killers from Iraqui Kurdistan and how Caroline made legal history during the process

Murder!!!!
You've watched the TV shows involving murder investigations.
Want to know what it's really like to investigate a murder then tune into the next episode of The Community Safety Podcast.
This week former Detective Inspector Steven Keogh provides real insights into this type of investigation.

Comprehensive Show Notes to follow.

Doctor Paul Stewart is a notable figure with an extraordinary life journey that spans beyond his illustrious career as a footballer in the Premier League, having played for renowned clubs such as Manchester City, Spurs, and Liverpool. In 2016, he bravely stepped into the limelight to unveil a deeply personal and painful chapter from his childhood.

Paul disclosed that he had endured sexual abuse by his football coach from the tender age of 10 to 14. His courageous decision to share this profound and difficult truth not only demonstrates immense resilience but also sparked crucial conversations about safeguarding young athletes and addressing the pervasive issue of abuse within the realm of sports. Paul, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you.

"In the world of sports, courage extends beyond the playing field. Dr. Paul Stewart's journey, from the heights of a Premier League footballer to the depths of disclosing his painful past, exemplifies resilience. His decision to share a deeply personal experience not only shook the foundations of football but ignited crucial conversations on safeguarding. The ripple effect is clear—more attention, better policies. Yet, as we progress, let's not forget, that parents play a pivotal role. Education is the key, asking simple questions ensures the safety of our children. Let's redefine the norm and make safeguarding a shared responsibility. Together, we can protect the future of our young athletes."

• Impact on Identity: Paul shares that the most challenging aspect was the potential loss of identity as a footballer, transitioning from being an athlete to an abuse victim.

• Emotional Rollercoaster: Coming forward involved emotional challenges, considering the impact on family, dealing with interviews, and the overwhelming response from individuals nationwide.

• Importance of safeguarding policies

• Understanding the importance of what football means to young boys and girls, "it is a safe haven for them"

• Family's Reaction: Paul needed to ensure his family was okay with his disclosure. The revelation was not only difficult for him but also impacted his family, including his brothers, who were unaware of the abuse.

• Guilt and Manipulation: Paul discusses how abusers were master manipulators, not just grooming the individual but also manipulating the wider family, making it difficult for parents to detect.

• Evolution of Grooming: Paul highlights the worrying evolution of grooming techniques, emphasising the role of social media and the internet in providing easier access to children.

• Contributions to Child Protection: Paul reflects on the positive changes in child protection in sports since 2016. Many individuals, including Gary Harris, worked on improving safeguarding procedures and policies.

• Parental Education: Paul emphasises the need for educating parents on safeguarding, as many still believe abuse happens elsewhere and may not fully understand the importance of checks on organisations.

• Importance of Parental Questions: Parents should ask simple questions about safeguarding policies, contact information, and problem resolution when leaving their children in organisations. Paul encourages parents to be proactive in ensuring their children's safety.

These key points shed light on the emotional and societal aspects surrounding child safeguarding, particularly in the context of sports.