In this short video, Dr. Keir Irwin-Rogers, Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University and Dr. Alistair Fraser, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Director of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Glasgow introduce ‘A public health approach to violence reduction: Strategic Briefing (2021).’

The new briefing outlines the ways in which system leaders and senior managers across local government and key partner agencies can ensure their organisations are making a positive contribution to public health approaches to violence reduction. This can be through collaboration, adopting approaches that value and actively engage with the lived experiences of communities, families and young people, and creating and promoting effective policies, practices and learning opportunities.

Talking Points

Dr. Keir Irwin-Rogers’ presentation looks at:

• The difference between a public health approach and a whole systems approach
• The role of evidence-led approaches to effectively responding to and prevent violence
• The importance of multi-agency collaboration
• Why engaging communities, families and young people is vital
• The need to establish organisational cultures of transparency, openness and ongoing learning.

Dr. Alistair Fraser's presentation looks at:

• The macro-level drivers of violence
• The importance of ensuring that individual rights are protected through co-produced solutions
• Why it is important to pay attention to the local context
• The challenges of evidencing success.

Resources that are mentioned in this video

• Fraser, A. and Irwin-Rogers, K. (2021). A public health approach to violence reduction: Strategic Briefing. Dartington: Research in Practice.
• Fraser, A. Public Health (2021). Public Health, Youth and Violence Reduction.

Related resources

• Proctor, B. (2018). How to see the water… understanding the culture you work in. Satori Lab
• Irwin-Rogers, K. and Pinkney, C. (2017) Social Media as a Catalyst and Trigger for Youth Violence. Catch22
• Blignaut, S. (2019). 7 Differences between complex and complicated,

Related Research in Practice resources

• Campbell- Lamb, K, Monteleone, S-C & Holmes, D. (2021). What does a public health response to youth violence look like in practice? Dartington: Research in Practice
• Tackling Child Exploitation (TCE) Support Programme (2021). Dartington: Research in Practice.
• Anon (2020). A sister's experience of county lines. Dartington: Research in Practice
• Sargeant, J. (2020). Young people and gangs: Approaches to assessment and intervention to facilitate their disengagement part 1. Dartington: Research in Practice
• Sargeant, J. (2020). Young people and gangs: Approaches to assessment and intervention to facilitate their disengagement part 2. Dartington: Research in Practice
• (2020). Community capacity and co-production – building a shared future: Leaders’ Forum 2020. Dartington: Research in Practice.
• Tjoa, P. (2021). Growing community capacity: Strategic Briefing. Dartington: Research in Practice

Reflective questions

Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice. 

1. How do you use and define evidence?
2. Does your organisation have a culture of transparency, openness and learning? How do you know?
3. How might you better work with communities, families and young people in your area?
4. How does your organisation work collectively with others to highlight the responsibility of central government?
5. How does your organisation work with the community to co-produce it’s response to violence?