PUBLIC INVITED TO JOIN DISCUSSION ON TACKLING SERIOUS VIOLENCE AND KNIFE CRIME

Published 17 September 2026 at 10:52am

The South Yorkshire Deputy Mayor will be chairing the next public Community Confidence Board in Doncaster later this month, where discussions will focus on South Yorkshire Police’s approach to reducing serious violence and knife crime, and their work with partners through a public health approach.

Residents, community groups, partner organisations and stakeholders across South Yorkshire are being invited to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Doncaster Corn Exchange, Market Place, Doncaster, DN1 1LQ, on Wednesday 30 September from 5pm to 7pm.

The Community Confidence Board provides a public forum where communities can hear directly from South Yorkshire Police, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and partner organisations.  The purpose is to join in discussions, ask questions and influence decision-making on issues that matter most to local communities.

Building on the success of the inaugural Board meeting, held in Sheffield, which focused on trust and confidence in policing, the September meeting will explore the scale and impact of serious violence across South Yorkshire, the response to knife crime, and the role that partnership working plays in preventing harm and keeping communities safe.

Attendees will hear updates on and be able to contribute to discussions on key areas:

• Trends in serious violence and knife-enabled crime across South Yorkshire
• Activity being undertaken by South Yorkshire Police to prevent and tackle serious violence
• Partnership approaches and collaboration across a range of stakeholders to reducing knife crime and supporting vulnerable young people
• Community-based interventions designed to prevent violence and improve outcomes for young people
• Future ambitions and priorities for reducing violence across the region

Kilvinder Vigurs, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “The Mayor, Oliver Coppard, made a commitment to developing a forum where the public of South Yorkshire could ask questions relating to things that matter to them relating to police and crime.  We want this conversation to reach across the county.

“The next event will focus on reducing serious violence and knife crime. We know it requires more than enforcement alone. It demands a joined-up approach that brings together policing, education, health services, local authorities, community organisations and local people to understand the causes of violence and intervene early to prevent harm.

“The Community Confidence Board provides an important opportunity for residents, partners and those with lived experience to hear directly from decision-makers, ask questions and shape the conversation about how we make our communities safer.

“I would encourage anyone with an interest in this issue, whether as a resident, professional, volunteer or community representative, to attend and take part in what I hope will be an open and constructive discussion.”

The meeting will bring together representatives from policing, local authorities, education, health, community safety partnerships, voluntary and community organisations, youth services, and people with lived experience of serious violence and knife crime.

As with previous meetings, there will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions, share views and contribute to discussions on how agencies can work together to address the causes and consequences of violence.

The Community Confidence Board provides a meaningful opportunity for residents and stakeholders to:

• Ask questions directly to policing and partner leaders
• Share lived experiences and community perspectives
• Understand the work taking place to reduce serious violence and knife crime
• Learn about partnership approaches to prevention and early intervention
• Help shape future priorities for community safety across South Yorkshire

The Board will operate in public and will be webcast. The agenda includes dedicated time for public questions and discussion.

Attendance at the meeting will be by registration of interest.  If you would like to register your interest pr submit a question related to serious violence and knife crime, please click on the link here Community Confidence Board September 2026 – Fill in form or email: policingandpublicsafety@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk

There will also be an opportunity for participants to engage via a live chat function during the meeting, both in person and through the webcast.