ANALYSIS: As we approach the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the lessons that need to be learned in relation to protecting public spaces from terror attack, and the important balance between community security and the rights of individual citizens.

INNOVATION: Having recognised the potential criminal threat from the use of drones, the INTERPOL Innovation Centre has now joined forces with law enforcement agencies across Europe to launch Project COURAGEOUS, an initiative to identify and assess the most effective technology to detect, track and intervene against illicit drones, as Policing Insight’s Andy Staniforth reports.

FEATURE: As movements of migrants and refugees across European borders reaches new levels in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ensuring border security while protecting refugees and preserving human rights has become increasingly difficult; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on the latest EU funding for police and security projects that will help countries to meet those complex challenges.

OPINION: With the information war increasingly taking place on digital platforms, and cheaper technology making covert surveillance more available, some argue that the importance of human intelligence (HUMINT) sources in law enforcement appears to be diminishing; but Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth believes HUMINT still has an essential role to play in meeting strategic intelligence requirements.

ANALYSIS: As recent terrorist attacks in Israel have increased tensions again in the region, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks back at the first incident of exported terrorism from the UK – the 2003 bombing of Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv – and considers how such events have shaped the country’s counter-terror stance and response to home-grown terrorism.

ANALYSIS: A recent operation backed by Europol and Eurojust saw police arrest more than 100 organised crime suspects in Latvia and Lithuania, and close down a scam call centre operation generating millions of euros; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the operation itself, and how European collaborations are playing a vital role in tackling financial crime and large-scale money laundering.

ANALYSIS: As the conflict in Ukraine continues, so too does the pressure to ensure that international crimes committed during the Russian invasion are fully investigated and prosecuted; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the steps being taken by EU states to establish the collaboration and co-operation needed to respond to such crimes, and the role law enforcement is likely to play in bringing people to justice.

ANALYSIS: The images of child refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine have been among some of the most disturbing to emerge from the war; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the risks posed in neighbouring countries by human trafficking gangs, and efforts from the European Commission to fund new projects to counter human trafficking across the continent.

FEATURE: With the Russian invasion of Ukraine once again highlighting the key role that social media and digital communications play in international state actions and legitimacy, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at a new European research project on the impact of online networks on politics and democracy, which could have significant implications for policing and the rule of law.

ANALYSIS: Three recent high-profile firearms cases involving the UK’s National Crime Agency have underlined the continuing fight against the flow of illegal guns into criminal hands; and as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports, tackling the trade and trafficking in illicit firearms is a challenge that will involve collaboration and co-operation across Europe.

ANALYSIS: As investigations of poor behaviour by UK politicians and police highlight a perceived decline of standards in public life, efforts are underway across the EU to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies within security and law enforcement is compatible with upholding the seven principles of public life, as Policing Insight’s Andy Staniforth reports.

ANALYSIS: As UK emergency services look to learn lessons from the Manchester Arena Inquiry to improve crisis response, a new European project involving partners from eight countries is using data sets from previous emergencies and disasters to identify strategies that can strengthen disaster resilience at a local, national and international level, as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports.

ANALYSIS: The surge in terrorist content online has presented law enforcement agencies and tech companies with significant challenges in tackling dangerous extremists; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at European efforts to target such activities and online material, including new draft legislation governing how the EU can work with third countries to exchange data.

ANALYSIS: As tensions continue to rise on the Russia-Ukraine border, public sector organisations in the UK are being urged to strengthen their cyber security resilience amid concerns that the threat of armed conflict on the ground could prompt aggressive actions by Russia in cyber space, as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth explains.

INNOVATION: The latest cybersecurity research and innovation opportunities published under the Horizon Europe programme offer police forces the chance to improve operational cyber monitoring and threat detection; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the opportunities available, and encourages UK forces to make the most of the funding available to strengthen security and detection through collaboration with EU partners.

ANALYSIS: The recent siege in a synagogue in Texas highlighted once again that terrorists increasingly view places of worship as legitimate and accessible targets; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on a new EU operational briefing published this week, providing guidance for law enforcement, faith leaders and their communities on improving protection at places of worship.

OPINION: A new collection of essays published by Polamk, the Finnish Police University College, provides an insight into policing innovation, and the disruptive thinking and fresh approaches necessary to overcome some of the barriers to change; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth, a long-term Polamk collaborator, believes the collection is essential reading for police leaders and innovators worldwide.

ANALYSIS: Politically motivated crime has been recognised as an issue needing specific attention for more than a century, but with multiple agencies now active in the sector, co-ordinating that response can be difficult; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the challenges presented by politically motivated crimes, and the importance of differentiating between extremism and terrorism.

FEATURE: The British Government’s National Cyber Strategy, published at the end of 2021, sets out a vision for the UK’s role in global cyberspace over the next decade; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the expectations of the new Strategy, the challenges presented by the ever-changing cyberspace, and the course of action policing and national security will need to take for the UK to fill that role.

FEATURE: Europol’s latest terrorism trends report has highlighted the success of far-right extremists in exploiting the isolation and increased internet use driven by the pandemic to spread right-wing ideologies and propaganda; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the nature of the online far-right terrorism threat, and how COVID-19 has created a breeding ground for extremism.

ANALYSIS: The latest annual reports on global and European cybercrime discuss both increasingly complex as well as opportunist attacks, and highlight the performance of individual countries in safeguarding against threats; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at who is doing well, who needs to do better, and what more they could be doing.

INNOVATION: Artificial intelligence and machine learning have the potential to revolutionise identification processes for law enforcement; but if they are to be reliable and trusted, those commissioning their use must ensure concerns around gender dimension bias have been addressed from the outset, says Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth.

ANALYSIS: Europe’s migrant crisis took a tragic turn this month, with the death of 27 people attempting to cross the Channel from France to the UK; with a significant rise in illegal EU border crossings over the past two years, the Frontex agency has found itself increasingly in the frontline of a political and humanitarian crisis, which has brought its own challenges for the organisation, as Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports.

FEATURE: The increasing use of drones in conflict situations by military and terrorists organisations has also served to highlight the threat posed to public safety more widely, and police are likely to be in the frontline response to that threat; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the legislative and regulatory framework put in place to enable officers to tackle the drone danger.