Violence Reduction: Promise, practice and the gaps in between

20
Oct
Online and in-person
20 October 2026, 13:00 - 16:00
Text reads: Violence Reduction: Promise, practice and the gaps in between. A panel discussion, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, on violence reduction and Violence Reduction Units (VRUs)

Six years on from the introduction of Violence Reduction Units, what have we learned?

Drawing on local evaluations, collaborative research and national evidence, this workshop explored the impact of VRUs on violence, examine the challenges of implementation, and identify where the evidence is strongest—and where important gaps remain.

Event outline and speakers

Session one: Lessons from recent research findings: What do we know

  • Professor Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, University of Birmingham
  • Dr Emily Evans, University of Birmingham
  • Illin Gani, University of Birmingham
  • Professor Laura Caulfield, University of Wolverhampton

Session two: Commissioning and delivery perspectives: Aims, expectations and challenges

  • Amanda Ritchie, Avon and Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership
  • Matthew Woodley-Wilson, Bedfordshire Violence Exploitation Prevention Partnership
  • Dr Luke Billingham, Hackney Quest and The Open University

Session three: System-level challenges: Ensuring a coherent and sustainable approach

  • Dr Tom Davies, London’s Violence Reduction Unit 
  • David Lloyd OBE, former Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire

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