OPINION: The decision to implement a third, non-degree entry route into UK policing may already have been made, but University of Central Lancashire Policing Lecturer David Marshall believes the move to bypass the current degree entry routes will negatively impact on efforts to professionalise policing, create a two-tier service, and do little to address falling levels of trusts and confidence in the police.

OPINION: While police officers accept and understand the physical dangers of the job, David Marshall, a serving officer and part-time policing lecturer and PhD researcher, believes that the constant negative rhetoric, public disdain and media criticism around policing – exacerbated by a lack of effective leadership – is leaving officers exposed to even greater levels of psychological danger and harm to mental health that are fuelling high attrition rates. 

FEATURE: Just a year after completing the Multi-Agency Gold Incident Command Course (MAGIC), David Marshall found himself leading the multi-agency response for a significant major incident; here he reflects on the steps he took as Gold Commander, how the MAGIC training and Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles proved vital in shaping and delivering that response, and the lessons learned from the experience.

ANALYSIS: Despite significant advances in addressing the mental health and psychological wellbeing of UK police officers, little progress has been made in considering the issues around police officer suicide; David Marshall, a serving officer with more than 30 years’ experience and part-time policing lecturer and PhD researcher, reveals the findings from the first research to qualitatively explore the factors implicated in the suicidal behaviours of police officers. WARNING: Includes references to suicide and self-harm.

OPINION: As the debate around the most effective police or partner agency response to those in mental health crisis continues, David Marshall, a serving officer with more than 30 years’ experience who is also a part-time policing lecturer and PhD researcher, explores how policing has become the default agency dealing with what is often a health emergency, and why any long-term strategy must recognise that law enforcement is often not the right responder.

OPINION: With British policing facing ongoing challenges around trust and confidence, as well as seemingly endless media scrutiny and criticism couple with frequent political attacks, the service is struggling to reconnect with the communities it is there to serve; David Marshall, a serving officer with more than 30 years’ experience who is also a part-time policing lecturer and PhD researcher, sets out the steps he believes policing needs to take to reset those connections and address the challenges.