OPINION: Against a backdrop of rapid technological advancement, societal change, and the need for continuous improvement, Canterbury Christ Church University Senior Lecturer in Policing, Dr David Lydon, argues that incorporating futurists into policing could redefine approaches to public safety, enhance community trust, and empower police personnel to navigate the future operating environment with confidence and foresight.

OPINION: Policing is understandably keen to embrace the latest technology in its efforts to protect the public and fight crime; but Dr David Lydon, a former police officer and now Senior Lecturer in Policing at Canterbury Christ Church University, believes that the move towards technocracy inevitably threatens the service’s ability to operate a consensual model in line with the principles and features of traditional community policing.

FEATURE: The consequences of climate change are increasingly recognised as a growing concern for policing and community safety, and were the subject of a recent @WeCops Twitter Chat; in this article Dr David Lydon of Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), who hosted the chat, reflects on the conversations and comments during the discussion, providing a narrative of the anonymised views and opinions of those taking part.

OPINION: The announcement by the Metropolitan Police that it plans to withdraw from attending mental health incidents unless they involve a threat to life has reignited the debate around policing’s role in responding to those in mental health crisis; Dr David Lydon, a former officer and now Senior Lecturer in Professional Policing, believes dropping what is a critical aspect of everyday policing is a mistake, and a betrayal of the service’s social responsibility.