Protecting Communities

ABOUT

 

Vince retired in September 2014, having served the past thirty years as a Police Officer with South Wales Police.

 

Having acquired a wide range of skills and experiences with attachments as a Community Constable, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Vince enjoyed the last fifteen years of his service as a Community Safety Officer gaining valuable experiences with roles within the Minorities Support team, Crime Prevention, Emergency Planning, Student Liaison, Hate Crime and supporting asylum seekers and refugees across the Cardiff area.

 

In 2001, the asylum seeker liaison role expanded considerably and Vince’s engagement with emerging diverse communities prompted him to design and produce an educational training program in partnership with Cardiff County Council entitled ‘Policesol’. 

 

In 2008, Cardiff was identified by the UK Government as a priority area and became one of the first local authorities to receive special Channel project funding. Channel aims to provide support to individuals at risk of being drawn into violent extremism. It draws on existing collaboration between local authorities, the police, statutory partners (such as the education sector, social services, children’s and youth services and offender management services) and the local community and has three objectives:

 

• to identify individuals at risk of being drawn into violent extremism;
   

• to assess the nature and extent of that risk;
   

• to develop the most appropriate support for the individuals concerned

 

With many years experience working and supporting vulnerable members of the community, Vince was well placed to spend the last six years of his police career working as a Prevent Community Engagement officer in Cardiff (Prevent - UK Governments Counter Terrorism strategy), where he was responsible for engaging and supporting a large number of vulnerable individuals who were at risk of being drawn into violent extremism.

 

As a result of many years of training experinace with Conflict Solutions, Vince took a lead in training delivery providing training to representatives of the Health service (particularly those working in mental health), Schools, HE colleges, Universities, the Probation Service, Youth Justice and also homeless charitable organisations.

 

Vince was well respected for his community engagement work and together with colleagues in 2014, was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by Mr. Peter Vaughan Chief Constable, South Wales Police.

 

'In recognition for your consistence and excellence in the Prevent area of Contest, making a positive impact engaging with the Diverse neighbourhoods of Cardiff, supporting community cohesion and preventing extremism through partnership working., thereby improving the lives all local communities and having a significant impact in keeping South Wales safe'. Peter Vaughan.