Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire | WYPCC

Faith organisations invited to join PCC and West Yorkshire Police consultation event

20th January 2021

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Angela Williams, Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) are inviting faith groups to join an upcoming consultation event.

The event, ‘Working in Partnership with Faith Communities’, is being held on Wednesday 27th January from 17:30 to 19:00 over the Microsoft Teams platform.

The key aims of the meeting include developing stronger relationships with the faith community, informing them of support opportunities and to hear directly from them to help shape joint policing and community safety priorities.

To request to join the meeting please email policingandcrime@westyorks-ca.gov.uk  by Monday 25th January.

The initiative has been arranged by the PCC’s office in partnership with West Yorkshire Police and will include an update from the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “A key part of my role is to consult and engage with our communities. Faith groups are an important part of the community for many people from different backgrounds, it’s important we continue to foster strong relationships with them.

“The meeting has some core aims including an ambition to develop a clear set of commitments from the Office of the PCC, West Yorkshire Police and the role of the Violence Reduction Unit in supporting the faith sectors and vice versa. But there will also be time to raise any issues, concerns or comments individuals or organisations may have.

“I’m looking forward to joining the meeting and taking part in these discussions, so if you are part of a faith organisation, do consider joining. For anyone with further questions or unable to join the meeting please contact my office via email to offer your views or phone us on 01924 294000. Thank you.”

Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “I am delighted to support the Police and Crime Commissioner with this important engagement event with our faith communities from across West Yorkshire. Policing must never underestimate the vital work such faith-based communities offer policing, and we have certainly witnessed this over the last 12 months during the pandemic.

“I am proud to be the national portfolio lead for ‘Religion and Belief’, so this event will be key to further understand the work our faith communities have completed and also ensure what further engagements and support myself and West Yorkshire Police can offer.”