Improving National Efforts to Tackle
Gang Crime, Violence and Weapon Crime
Join us at the National Tackling Gang Violence, County Lines, and Knife Crime Conference 2027 to explore the latest government strategies, multi-agency partnerships, frontline innovations, and lived experience insights addressing serious violence, county lines, and gang exploitation. Gain practical tools, policy updates, and best practice examples from leading national figures to better protect at-risk youth and deliver impactful interventions across the UK.
2026 supporters included
Overview
Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Despite significant progress in 2025, with record enforcement outcomes including the closure of 2,740 county lines, the charging of 1,657 gang leaders, and the seizure of 961 knives, gang-related violence, county lines exploitation, and knife crime continue to pose a serious threat to vulnerable young people and communities across the UK.
Recognising the need for a more preventative and coordinated approach, the Government has strengthened its commitment to tackling serious violence through increased investment in early intervention, targeted enforcement, and community-based support. The introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill, alongside initiatives such as the rollout of 50 Young Futures Hubs, demonstrates a renewed focus on addressing the root causes of youth violence, preventing exploitation, and supporting at-risk young people before they become involved in gangs or criminal activity. These measures form a critical part of the Government’s ambitious mission to halve knife crime within the next decade.
Against this evolving policy landscape, collaborative, multi-agency responses are essential. Sharing intelligence, identifying risk, and delivering coordinated interventions are essential to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and building safer communities.
Join us at the National Tackling Gangs, Violence and Weapon Crime Conference 2027 to:
Value for money
What’s Included
Keynotes
Gain insights from senior stakeholders shaping the national gangs, county lines, and weapon crime agenda.
Case Studies
Explore best practice and get tools and tips to combat county lines, preventing gang affiliation, tackling weapon crime, and safeguarding children.
Network
Connect with your peers throughout the day, share experiences, and celebrate successes.
CPD
Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your target and continue your own professional development.
Don’t miss out
Why You Should Attend
2026 agenda
Improving National Efforts to Tackle
Gang Crime, Violence and Weapon Crime
- Exploring government priorities for tackling organised crime gangs, county lines and child criminal exploitation
- Assessing current progress on the Government’s ambition to halve knife crime and the impact of the Crime and Policing Bill and new powers to disrupt organised crime
- Understanding how national policy is shaping local policing, safeguarding and prevention
- Building a whole-system approach centred on early intervention, multi-agency collaboration and protecting vulnerable young people
- Considering next steps and the future of policing gang violence, county lines, and knife crime
Paul Brodgen, Lead for Gangs and County Lines, NPCC (invited)
- Developing effective multi-agency partnerships to tackle serious organised crime and violence
- Aligning policing, education, health, and local authority priorities to ensure the best outcomes
- Sharing intelligence and data to identify vulnerable young people earlier
- Building sustainable prevention strategies through local partnerships
Jon Yates, CEO, Youth Endowment Fund (invited)
- Understanding the grooming process and the role of debt bondage, coercion, and cuckooing in exploitation
- Examining how vulnerabilities including neurodiversity, SEND, adverse childhood experiences, and NEET status increase susceptibility to CCE
- Identifying the signs of exploitation and embedding effective safeguarding responses across agencies
- Strategies for prevention and building resilience amongst vulnerable young people
Junior Smart OBE, Founder of SOS project, St Giles Trust (CONFIRMED)
- Helping parents recognise the signs of grooming, coercion and county lines involvement
- Supporting families whose children are already victims of criminal exploitation
- Building effective relationships between parents, schools, police and safeguarding services
- Strengthening family-focused interventions to reduce ongoing risk and re-exploitation
Lindsay Dalton, CEO, Ivison Trust (invited)
- Understanding the hidden experiences of girls involved in gangs, county lines and criminal exploitation
- Recognising the signs of coercion, criminal and sexual exploitation that often go unnoticed
- Delivering gender-informed, trauma-informed interventions to build trust and improve engagement
- Lessons from providing gender-responsive support through multi-agency partnerships
Jennie Read, Prevent and Protect Officer for Gangs and County Lines, Essex Police (invited)
This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in tackling gangs, violence and weapon crime. Allowing you to share their experiences and encourage cross sector collaboration.
- Designing evidence-based diversion programmes that reduce involvement in gangs and criminal exploitation
- Creating effective referral pathways between education, youth services, policing and social care
- Strategies for delivering targeted interventions for children and young people at risk of offending or exploitation
- Measuring impact and achieving sustainable long-term outcomes through partnership working
Nicky Hill, Policy & Commissioning Manager: Safer Children & Young People, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (invited)
Daniel Morris, Assistant Director for Young People & Families, Catch22 (CONFIRMED)
Paul Dayes, Founder and CEO, Exit Foundation (invited)
- Understanding how to engage vulnerable young people before violence escalates
- Raising awareness of the risks and consequences of knife carrying through community-led initiatives
- Combining prevention, intervention and rehabilitation to reduce serious violence
- Strengthening partnerships between policing, education, youth services and local communities to create safer futures
Faron Paul, Founder and Knife Crime Specialist, Faz Amnesty (invited)
- Identifying and engaging individuals affected by gang involvement whilst in custody
- Delivering specialist interventions to address violence, exploitation and offending behaviour
- Coordinating rehabilitation and resettlement through prison and community partnerships
- Supporting successful reintegration to reduce reoffending and prevent further gang involvement
Simon Grant, Gangs Service Coordinator, Catch22 (invited)
- Understanding how county lines and organised crime are impacting rural and coastal communities
- Identifying the unique challenges facing policing, safeguarding and local services outside of the main cities
- Building effective partnerships to prevent exploitation and disrupt criminal networks
- Lessons from regional initiatives tackling gang-related violence across the UK
Tryst Fentem, Serious Violence & Knife Crime Problem Solving Portfolio Lead, Devon and Cornwall Police (invited)
Dr Simon Harding, Director and Principal Expert, Strategic Advisor to HM Government, Independent Expert to the Courts, Criminology Services LTD
*Note: Programme is subject to change without notice
2026 Speakers Included
What previous delegates say
Testimonials
Thank you to all who organised this conference and the speakers who took part – there was a lot of information shared by people who are truly knowledgeable in their field and I hope to connect with some of them outside of this forum.
Safer Custody Hub Manager
HMPPS
Very much enjoyed hearing from all the subject matter experts. It has motivated me to really push for the change, which we (police) know is needed to get ahead of future demand in this area.
Detective Inspector
Avon & Somerset Constabulary
Such an informative day, great and relevant speakers with lived experience and working on front line.
Care Leavers Nurse
Dorset NHS
A very useful conference, allowing delegates to see the complexity and interlinkages between drugs, violence, youth violence, and organised crime.
Lived Experience Involvement Manager
Revolving Doors Agency
This event was really informative and a useful way of reflecting on and evaluating current practice, what to focus on and what works.
Team Manage
Darlington Borough Council
Very interesting event; a range of speakers providing valuable insights into a complex subject area.
Safeguarding Manager
South Yorkshire Police
The conference was really informative and interesting and showcased the hard work and dedication of all agencies in the fabulous work that is ongoing to prevent and protect children and young people who are victims of exploitation. I really enjoyed the case studies that were presented as provided further insight into the world of exploitation.
Safeguarding Children and children in care and lead for child exploitation
Wirral University Teaching Hospital
The event was informative and delivered by experienced speakers who had insight into the current climate across the UK and the impact on our young people and communities with an increase in Violence, substance use and exploitation not only in the UK but also a more global recognition.
Designated Safeguarding Lead Manager
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
A well organised and informative event which I would recommend attending!
Senior Lecturer
Anglia Ruskin University
Excellent conference, having speakers with lived experience really enhanced the experience.
Head of Student Support
West Herts College
Great range of speakers and very informative.
Team Manager
Barnardo’s
Very useful conference with key points to take away to develop in our own area.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Oxford Spires Academy
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Secure Your Place Today
PUBLIC SECTOr
£395
For public sector employees only. Please use your work email for verification.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
£355
For employees of charities, social enterprises, and voluntary organisations only. Please use your work email for verification.
PRIVATE SECTOR
£520
Private sector places are strictly limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.
