INTERVIEW: As a number of cities across the US attempt to deal with an apparent rise in violent crime, Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to Prof Michael Smith of the University of Texas at San Antonio who, with colleagues from UTSA and in collaboration with the leadership and officers of Dallas PD, has developed an evidence-based plan to target violent crime that is already delivering results for the city.

INTERVIEW: The extensive and in some cases excessive searches of victims’ mobile phones and medical records in rape and serious sexual assault cases have reportedly prompted many victims to withdraw from the prosecution process; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to UK Information Commissioner John Edwards about his report published today, which sets out new parameters and guidelines on the gathering and use of digital evidence from victims.

INTERVIEW: People with a disability form the single largest minority group in the US, and their interactions with law enforcement can often have damaging yet avoidable outcomes; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to Dr Stephanie Zoltowski – and some of those she has trained – about the importance of improving police and first responders’ knowledge and understanding of disability and neurodiversity.

FEATURE: With policing under ever-increasing scrutiny over the use of force, a new programme launched by America’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is looking to improve understanding among the media and the public about law enforcement use-of-force policies and the split-second decisions officers may need to take, as Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend reports.

INTERVIEW: As LAPD’s Director of Police Training and Education, Dr Luann Pannell is using her insight as a psychologist to reshape the Department’s training approach and ensure resilience and good mental health receive as much focus as procedures and practical skills, as she explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend.

FEATURE: With law enforcement in the US and globally having experienced an unprecedented challenge in the form of COVID-19, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) has gathered together the relevant research, experiences and impact of the pandemic to produce a recent ‘lessons learned’ publication, as Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend reports.

INTERVIEW: Boulder PD Chief Maris Herold has a wealth of policing experience, including at the forefront of significant reform; she spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about the holistic governance approach, the importance of involving communities and other agencies in tackling gun crime, and why police departments need to focus more strongly on prevention rather than reaction.

INTERVIEW: A new early intervention system adopted by Dallas PD can highlight those officers who need more support and training to improve their performance; Deputy Chief Catrina Shead spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about the system, as well as current recruitment challenges, and why experience and observation are as important as education.

INTERVIEW: Once a hotbed of 1970s counterculture, Austin in Texas has a reputation as a progressive, fast-changing city, with all the policing challenges that a modern urban environment brings; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to Austin Police Department Chief Joseph Chacon about meeting those challenges – including recruitment, community safety and racial inequality – and his own style of leadership.

Interview: Having worked her way up from secretary to a senior police role, Denver PD Deputy Chief Barb Archer has drawn on her diverse experiences to create a leadership style that is widely respected and admired; she spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about leadership, the need to improve diversity within policing, and what drives her to continue achieving.

INTERVIEW: From recruitment shortages to reducing violence and building community relations, police leaders across the US are facing some tough challenges; and for Laura Cooper, Executive Director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, they are challenges which she is determined to help policing to overcome, as she explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend.

ANALYSIS: While recruitment and retention challenges have been the focus for many police forces around the world, the lack of female representation in US law enforcement has become a mounting concern; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to current and former officers as well as other criminal justice stakeholders working hard – and in many cases drawing on their own experiences – to address that gender imbalance.

INTERVIEW: With a number of Caribbean countries still relying on handwritten crime records, a new US/UN initiative has helped these paradise islands to develop their digital capability and crime data analyst role; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to Arizona State University Professor Charles Katz – one of the leaders of the programme – to find out more.

INTERVIEW: With increasing demand, limited resources and higher levels of public scrutiny, Denver Police Department (DPD) is facing challenges common to law enforcement agencies around the world; Chief Paul Pazen, the city native now leading DPD, believes the answers include strong community understanding, opportunities for police lifelong learning, and alternatives to traditional police responses, as he explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend.

INTERVIEW: With organised crime and illegal financial transactions increasingly reliant on digital data and online activity, the work of the digital forensics team at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the UK has become crucial in the fight against fraud and other crimes: Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to HMRC’s Head of Digital Forensics Colin Smith to find out more.

FEATURE: Stress has long been part of a police officer’s lot, but the added pressures of Covid, shortage of resources and continuous scrutiny have highlighted the damaging effect on officer wellness; Police Insight’s Christine Townsend looks at a new peer-to-peer support programme pioneered by Florida’s South Miami PD, which is attempting to change cultures, improve communication, and enhance officers’ ability to manage struggles.

INTERVIEW: The opportunity to spend a year as a White House Fellow gave LAPD officer Sgt Brian Churchill an incredible insight into leadership, one which he wanted to use to improve leadership training within the force; when the impact of Covid then shifted all learning online, the development of LAPD’s University app and online Leadership Program was the ideal solution, as he explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend.

INTERVIEW: When the citizens of Queen Creek, Arizona voted in favour of establishing a new police department, experienced Chief of Police Randy Brice was given the job of creating the organisation; he spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about the challenges of recruiting during Covid, to a tight deadline, while ensuring the town’s community has a strong voice in the mission, values and vision of its new PD.

FEATURE: San Diego Police Department regularly held 170 community meetings every month to encourage public engagement, but when the pandemic arrived, citizen contact moved from face-to-face to online; now the force is hoping a new web-based survey approach will increase public reach and ensure the department’s policing priorities reflect those of the community, as Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend reports.

OPINION: UK policing has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks – particularly in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder, and the focus on misogyny and violence against women and girls – and the service’s efforts to put out the right message have often fallen short; in this opinion piece Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, a specialist in crisis communications, urges forces to recognise the power of language and gain a better understanding of their audience.