Public safety and health aspects of drug-related violence — 1st European Conference on Drug-Related Violence

Description

The first European Conference on Drug-Related Violence, co-organised by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and the European Commission, brought together policymakers, practitioners, civil society and researchers from across Europe to explore the complex interplay between drug markets and violence. Held in Brussels in November 2024, the conference provided a unique platform for knowledge exchange, evidence sharing and collaborative discussion on how to better understand, monitor and respond to drug-related violence in the EU.

Plenary session 2: Public safety and health aspects of drug-related violence 

Chair: Jo De Cock, Head of unit, Directorate-General Migration and Home Affairs, EC 

Co-Chair: Liesbeth Vandam, Head of sector, Support to policy, EUDA 

Speakers: 

• Charlotte Colman, Professor of Criminology and Drug Policy at the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, University of Ghent, Belgium 
• Charles Lloyd, Co-Director, Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre, United Kingdom 
• Mónica Diniz, Head of Prevention, Security and International Relations, Lisbon Municipal Police, Portugal 

Moderator: Florence Ranson 

This session examined the complex public safety and health dimensions of drug-related violence, with a particular focus on local-level impacts. Presentations addressed issues including urban security, juvenile recruitment by criminal networks and the role of recovery- and community-focused approaches in tackling violence linked to drug markets. 

Speakers brought diverse perspectives from policing, public policy and academia, sharing insights on community engagement, justice capital and innovative prevention partnerships. The session highlighted how multidisciplinary collaboration and people-centred strategies can build resilience, improve safety and promote inclusive responses to drug-related harms.