The Safer Luton Partnership today held their Annual General Meeting in the company of approximately eighty partners, community representatives, stakeholders and staff.

Brian McFarland, the Chair of the Safer Luton Partnership Stakeholder group, opened the meeting before introducing Joan Bailey, the Safer Luton Partnership Programme Manager. Joan spoke about the continuing achievments of the Partnership and the importance of partnership working.

The guest speaker was Richard Newcombe, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Bedfordshire, who spoke about "Inside Justice Week" and outlined several areas where the Criminal Justice Service has made improvements in their service.

Ivor Twydell, Chief Superintendent of Bedfordshire Police and the Chair of the Luton Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), then spoke about the place of the Safer Luton Partnership within the overall umbrella of the local CDRP. Speaking about the need to cultivate a more positive image of Luton he also stressed the benefits of partnership working to reduce crime and disorder within the town.

Finally, Jenny Moody of Luton's Women's Aid spoke about the issue of domestic violence. Jenny is a long standing representative of this issue and adresses her concerns based on her thirty plus years of experience. She formally lauched Luton's first Domestic Violence Strategy, which was produced by the Safer Luton Partnership. The strategy can be downloaded here.

After the formal presentations the attendees had the opportunity to speak with the Safer Luton Partnership staff members, and to view presentations from each of the Project Units, namely Crime Reduction, Youth Inclusion, Mentoring and Education, Marsh Farm Youth Diversionary, and Children's Fund / On Track.