Our board consists of a team of experienced professionals, community influencers, police and practitioners, all whom arex seeking and supporting solutions to prevent violent crime.
The board covers our eight focal themes, each of which address the main contributory factors of violent crime towards effective ‘prevention’ countermeasures.
Below you will find a brief biography on each board member. We also engage with senior police staff to offer advice and support that reflect the needs of the communities it serves. In order to achieve positive outcomes for the community as a whole, it is important to understand our roles as service providers and crime enforcement.
MSc Ed. Mgt, Ba (Hons) Ed. Trg, PGCE, DPQS, NNEB
PROFESSION: Tutor; Trainer; Life, executive and professional coach, Community Ambassador
AREA OF INTEREST: Diversion / opportunities for young people / innovation/ research
Dr Angela Herbert MBE began a public sector career over 30 years ago; volunteering for 13 years at a young offenders’ institution. She is a qualified teacher and trainer, has an MSc in Education Management, a specialism in prison education; BA in Education and Training and a Professional Doctorate in Education. She also has a number of academic attainments including assessor, internal and external verifier awards, post-graduate educational mentoring, life, executive and educational coaching.
She is a published author, consultant and trainer specialising in practical change solutions for individuals, groups, and professionals. She develops and delivers training in micro-aggressions, discrimination, practical parenting and positive family relationships that are all solutions based.
Angela is a community ambassador for the BME community, and sits on the board of a number of organisations including; Diversity Development and Chair of the Brent Metropolitan Police Independent Advisory Group.
A public speaker specialising in social matters, Angela promotes equality and the creation of opportunities for ‘marginalised’ members of society giving them ‘voice’. She supports initiatives that practically promote change and using rich resources obtained from the lives of individuals and their experiences. She has the expertise, skills and vision to lead and chair the Violent Crime Prevention Board. She believes that Violent Crime Prevention is ‘our’ responsibility and that the acronym VCP should promote Vision to Champion Progress.
ANY OUTCOMES ACHIEVED:
Bed(Hons) NPQH, NPQSI, MBTI, GDipcoach (ILM)
PROFESSION: Headteacher, School Improvement Consultant, ILM Executive Coach and Leadership Mentor, Assistant Chief Officer Metropolitan Police Service and Alternative Provision Specialist
AREA OF INTEREST: Ensuring opportunities for children and young adults with autism.
Anthony Peltier started his teaching career in 1979 working for the Inner London Education Authority. His 39 years in education has seen him teach across the primary and secondary sector, with his last 18 years as a Headteacher in primary schools, and an Executive Headteacher for a group of schools in Central London.
Having taken early retirement in 2018, Anthony formally started using his level 7 Leadership Coaching qualification as a tool to continue using my extensive educational, training and leadership skills to coach aspiring leaders and established Head-teachers. He is committed to supporting leaders to meet the challenges of leadership in 21st-century schools facing 21st century social pressures. Anthony has I also worked for the National College of Senior Leaders as a facilitator of leadership development programmes. Anthony has developed a leadership style that has proved successful in raising standards, achievement and opportunities for young people, staff and members of the local community.
As a specialist coach, he has worked with aspiring teachers and head teacher’s to help prepare them for the challenges of leadership in 21st century schools. He has extensive experience of working nationally and internationally on supporting schools in meeting the expectations of “Safeguarding” young people. As an Assistant Chief Officer with the Metropolitan Police Service he contributes to the training and development of police officers and to policy development within the Metropolitan area.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS INCLUDE:
AWARDS:
The Biney Award 2001 for Bravery
Pride of Britain 2002 for Bravery
Lewisham Pride 2003 for Partnership Working
AREA OF INTEREST: Youth voice / gang & SYV prevention
Graduated with a First class BSC from London Metropolitan University, dissertation on Gangs. Jane Brueseke manages Waltham Forest’s award-winning youth engagement groups Young Advisors & Youth Independent Advisory Group. She has managed these youth engagement groups for over 6 years
Director of A Better Way Partnership CIC– community partner to the Waltham Forest Gang Prevention Programme board
Founding trustee of South Leytonstone Area Regeneration (SLADA) Charity; set up in 2006 with the aims of urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation
Director of Power Up Community fitness CIC, a youth fitness and mentoring project, initially funded for 2 years by the Home Office Community Action Against Crime Innovation Fund
Jane joined the VCPB because she is passionate about ensuring all young people have the best start in life, free from violence. Working with the board she ensures the voice of young people informs all our decision-making, particularly those who are not often represented or heard.
ANY OUTCOMES ACHIEVED:
PROFESSION: Family Liaison Manager/ Restorative Mentor
Area of interest: Men, Fathers, Children and Young People
Provides support to fathers, children and young people in the form of leadership and mentoring.
Courtney joined VCPB because he believes in its mission of championing positivity in the community and working together.
Any outcomes achieved:
PROFESSION: Consultant, Corporate Trainer, Broadcaster & Writer
AREA OF INTEREST: Social mobility, community empowerment & diversifying the media
Andrea is the founder of UK Digital Training Group, an internationally recognised organisation specialising in leadership and executive skills training. Also a writer and broadcaster under the pseudonym ‘Sorry Ms Jackson’ podcasts and feature column in magazine Urban Kaptial she combines lifestyle cultural writing with academic research papers.
Author of books: PostBrexit Trade can make ‘Ethics’ work for us, and ‘What my culture did to me’: How to Eradicate FGM Effectively- distributed by German Publishers Lambert Academic, her exemplary record as a UK Civil Servant for more than 15 years secured her international Diplomatic Status in Nigeria for the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Private Office Manager in DFID to Andrew Mitchell MP and Project Manager of multimillion pound International Projects in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Albania and Serbia for the UK Ministry of Justice in 2017.
In addition Andrea spent 4 years as marketing lead and senior study skills tutor on MDes (Master of Design) courses: Social Innovation and Design Management at Ravensbourne University.
As a Policy Officer in the Ministry of Justice, she brings to the board decades of work experience from government and corporate environments home and abroad. She has enthusiastically hit the ground running as Communications Lead for the VCPB.
Community & Families
PROFESSION: Trainer; Professional Coach, Community Ambassador; Mentor
AREA OF INTEREST: Families | Youth justice | Education- opportunities for young people | Research
Dame Claudine has over 25 years experience of working with looked-after children, mothers and babies, and young people in the criminal justice system. She is the published author and co-founder of the London gang exit strategy, founder of the organisation Taking Positive Steps Foundation, and the Community, Police and Engagement lead in an Independent Advisory Group.
She is a proactive, disruptive and a thought-provoking criminologist, not afraid to challenge many common theories on working and engaging with young people who display what society deems as challenging behaviour. After being in the social work profession for over two decades, Dame Claudine’s passion for working and engaging with children and young people remains as dynamic as ever.
Her dedication and reputation with the Metropolitan Police has earned her numerous commendations including for dedication in 2003 to the community at the time of the longest siege in British Police history; Being proactive in the retrieval of firearms and live bullets from the community and from Sir John Stevens in recognition of her dedication to community. Dame Claudine’s meticulousness, drive and enthusiasm for the young people she works with has earned her their respect.
Outcomes achieved
Work in progress:
Establish a national conversation around exclusion without a community impact assessment which feeds into grooming and county lines, bullying, mental health community trauma and the stability of the wider families/community
Research paper around policy economics and youth crime.
For more information visit: www.takingpositivesteps.org.uk
PROFESSION: Chief Executive at StopWatch
Area of interest: Law and Public Policy, Community Activism and Engagement, Voluntary Sector
Katrina studied Social and Political Science at the University of Cambridge and graduated in 2009. Studying Social and Political Sciences at university further fuelled her interest in law, politics, psychology and sociology. Katrina possesses a great understanding about the interconnectedness and complexities of these areas. She is passionate about youth work, social equality and criminal justice. She enjoys assisting people with their personal development and identifying ways to enhance their life.
During her professional career, Katrina worked for multiple charities and local authorities over the last nine years, gaining a wealth of political and charitable experience. She confidently and competently supports a range of voluntary and community organisations to develop their capacity and deliver high quality services.
Since 2015 Katrina has actively volunteered her time to provide community scrutiny to the policing power of stop and search; she was the chair of the Islington Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group for three years. Katrina has experience of sitting on local community partnerships and was an executive member of the Islington Safer Neighbourhood Board. She has also held the vice-chair and chair positions on the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime Pan-London Stop and Search Community Monitoring Network.
PROFESSION: CEO of the Peace Alliance and minister in charge of Freedom’s Ark Church
Area of interest: Faith, justice, peace, equality and social cohesion
Nims chaired the London Criminal Justice Board Advisory Group and has worked in Multi-Faith and Inter-Government agency settings.
He has represented the Peace Alliance as a member on key national government boards such as the Home Secretary’s Round Table on Gun, Gangs and Knife Crime and chaired Operation Blunt, a Met Police strategy on knife crime. Nims was also on the Met Police Stop and Search Scrutiny Panel and a member of the Home Office Stop and Search Panel.
In order to address the issue of violent crime, Nims chaired the Haringey Council sub- committee which addressed violent crime in the local borough of Haringey.
Any outcomes achieved:
PROFESSION: Director of Patrice Bailey International
Patrice Bailey, Director of Patrice Bailey International is a trainer, consultant and speaker. Starting her first business in her twenties whilst studying for a law degree, Patrice’s enthusiasm for entrepreneurship grew significantly and she has since enjoyed working across a wide range of industries (including legal, business and consulting sectors).
Patrice is an expert in helping individuals to recognise their potential and develop themselves and their business to see remarkable results. She understands the importance of encapsulating a vision and helps her clients emerge into their calling through profiling, branding and her strategic three stage planning model achieved through identification, positioning and execution. Patrice also teaches on business once a month to a growing group of budding entrepreneurs.
As well as running her own business she is Head of Business and Strategy for Faith Tabernacle, a charitable organisation, where she spearheads its business arm. Patrice has a vision and passion to help young people develop their potential to make their society a better place, hence her membership on the Board.
VCPYB Chair
I joined the violent crime prevention board because I believe young people need to understand that their current circumstances doesn’t have to be their future circumstances and with the right support system available to them, they’ll be able to overcome any hardship they face.
Ricardo Christopher served for twenty five years as senior minister of a thriving church charity. He worked in several departments of the civil service culminating his career at No 10 Downing St.
During his tenure as minister Ricardo taught inmates at HMP Wormwood Scrubs prison and set up Saturday schools for underprivileged children. In recent years Ricardo coordinated the Synergy Network at Ascension Trust – a network of charities across London aimed at tackling serious youth violence. He is now engaged in addressing the needs of young BAME groups through his ‘baccalaureate’ programme, mentoring youth and ministering in the community.
PROFESSION: Detective Chief Superintendent (Central Specialist Crime – Metropolitan Police)
Michael Gallagher (Mick) is a Londoner, a Londoner passionate about policing London.
He is a senior police officer who has worked in various boroughs in North and South London, in a very long career as a detective.
Mick’s current role as Detective Chief Superintendent makes him responsible for the Metropolitan Police – Serious and Organised Crime Command which includes; Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking, Kidnap, Extradition, Complex Fraud, Cyber Crime, Crypto Currency, Economic Crime, Extradition, and the Flying Squad. Additionally, he is responsible for investigations on child exploitation, abuse and associated public enquiries.
A victim of knife crime himself, Mick is passionate about helping young people avoid knife crime and joining gangs, and prevent them becoming victims themselves.
PROFESSION: Professor of Global City Policing, University College London
Dr Ben Bradford is the academic lead for the VCPB. Ben is based at the UCL Department of Security and Crime Science. He is also Director of the JDI Institute for Global City Policing, an initiative joint funded by UCL, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to promote policing research in London.
Ben’s research interests include public trust, police legitimacy, cooperation and compliance in justice settings, and social identity as a factor in all these processes. He has also published on organisational justice within police agencies, ethnic and other disparities in policing, and elements of public-facing police work such as neighbourhood patrol, community engagement and stop and search. In addition to his work with the MPS and MOPAC, Ben has also collaborated with organisations including the College of Policing, Police Scotland, and West Midlands Police on a wide variety of projects.
PROFESSION: Teacher, Football Coach, Advisor.
Jordan Campbell is a school teacher and football coach at JC Sports, an organisation he founded. He works with a number of youth in the community, particularly males and has successfully delivered and awarded football coaching training certificates to youth as young as 15 years of age. He and his team are role models who are creating young leaders using sport as a catalyst.
Do you have influence in your community & wish to get involved with the vcpb?
