The following speakers took part in the debate: Jacek Jaśkowiak (Mayor of the City of Poznan), Wojciech Kaczmarczyk (Director of the National Institute of Freedom - Center for Civil Society Development), Adam Rapacki (former Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, former Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Managing Partner of Rapacki and Partners Security Law Firm), and Karol Reczkin (Head of MISO Analysis Center). The moderator of the meeting was Rafał Batkowski (Director of Public Security at the Institute for Security and International Development, former Wielkopolska Regional Police Chief, former member of the EUROPOL Board of Directors and former Head of the INTERPOL National Office).

Among other things, the meeting discussed the present condition of civil society and public security as the basis for building them. Matters concerning professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement in the context of human and civil rights and freedoms were analyzed. Also, speakers debated how to assess threats and manage security locally, and how public participation affects all that. CPTED, crime prevention and community policing were discussed as examples of threat prevention strategies. Also, the meeting highlighted the fact that the digital transformation of cities would bring improved accessibility and quality of services to residents - but it was questioned whether this would also enhance community security. In view of the ongoing war in Ukraine, there was also a discussion of the role of society, NGOs and the administration and their inter-institutional cooperation in the wake of the refugee crisis.

Local Trends - European Local Government Forum is a project aimed at strengthening the voice of cities, municipalities, counties and provinces in the discussion of the country's socio-economic development. On October 17-18, 2022, representatives of administration, business and academia met at the Poznań International Fair in Poznań during the second edition of the event. Debates, discussions with experts, as well as business and backstage talks awaited Forum participants at the Poznań Congress Center. Topics of this year's meetings of the European Social Fund focused on issues such as the new financial perspective of the European Union, security and energy independence of local governments, the concept of Smart City and e-mobility, as well as green urban revitalization.

Photos: Monika Pasieczna, Piotr Pasieczny/ PHOTOBUENO