Suffolk safety issues to be discussed at free public event

The University of Suffolk will be hosting a panel of experts to discuss the safety challenges facing the county and how best to tackle them.

‘Re-imagining Safety in our Communities’ will bring together representatives from policing, mental health services and the University’s Institute of Social Justice and Crime and will consider the importance of safe spaces - physical, online and social, in the context of the epidemic of violence against women and girls. 

The free public event from 6pm on Wednesday 24 September is part of the Spotlight Suffolk series, providing an opportunity for discussion, questions and debate on topics which matter to the community.  

The event will be chaired by Marisa Batson, Adult Mental Health Senior Transformation Lead at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, with a short welcome and introduction provided by His Honour Judge Martyn Levett DL. 

The panel brings together Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore, Franstine Jones BEM from Aspire Black Suffolk and Suffolk Constabulary Police Race Action Plan Advisory and Scrutiny Panel, and Professor Miranda Horvath from the Institute for Social Justice and Crime at the University of Suffolk.

The panel also includes Detective Superintendent Matt Bodmer, Force Lead for Domestic Abuse for Suffolk and Contact/Control Room, Suffolk Constabulary, as well as #IWill Youth Ambassadors Abiola Abidoye and Alex Harrison.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange, Professor Emma Bond from the University of Suffolk, said: “Understanding and increasing safety and perceptions of safety are vital to enable our communities to thrive. We are looking forward to a lively discussion as we address safety in physical and online spaces. 

“Our Spotlight Suffolk events address issues that matter to our county and are part of our civic university commitment to offer a programme of free events to the community.” 

Previous Spotlight Suffolk events have covered sustainability and the impact of artificial intelligence. The 24 September event will be held at The Hold in Ipswich, doors open at 5.45pm and the panel discussion at 6.15pm will be followed by networking and canapes. 

In addition to Spotlight Suffolk, the University of Suffolk hosts a free Open Lecture series. The programme for the new academic year starts with the Annual Faith Open Lecture; “Love in the Time of Conflict — The Bonds of Bhakti in South Asia” on Wednesday 17 September.  

Delivered by Dr. Ankur Barua, Faculty of Divinity, University of Delhi, the lecture will explore the symbolic power of bhakti to facilitate certain types of interfaith engagement. 

By popular demand, the programme will also see Honorary Graduate Charlie Haylock return to the University on Thursday 4 December to give one of his final lectures before retiring from public speaking. 

Events are free to attend but places must be booked online by visiting the website here.