Announcement: We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Gibbons as Deputy Editor of Policing Insight. Sarah has been appointed to aid the ongoing development of our editorial, improving the quality and diversity of our content.

OPINION: For those still having to deal with the pandemic and police the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions, festive good wishes seem strangely out of place; perhaps, as Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter suggests, the best we can hope for is a lockdown-induced, crime-free Christmas, and – when it finally arrives – a well-deserved break.

Top Articles 2020: Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter leads the team in selecting their favourite articles published in 2020. The editorial team have each selected their ‘Top 10’ picks and we have made them freely available during the Christmas period for all users with at least a free registered account. We hope you enjoy our selections!

INTERVIEW: Former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Bob Paulson looks at the problems the force faces around diversity and discrimination, the effects of unionisation, concerns over militarisation of the RCMP, and fears over the wider erosion of police independence, in the second part of his interview with Policing Insight.

INTERVIEW: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is an iconic law enforcement agency, instantly recognisable and internationally renowned, but in recent years the force has faced more testing times and controversies than most; in this two-part interview, former RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson talks to Policing Insight about the challenges facing the Mounties.

FEATURE: A series of international workshops focusing on policing in the pandemic have highlighted officer wellbeing, new crime threats and a deluge of lockdown legislation as key concerns emerging from the COVID-19 crisis; ahead of a London Policing College conference next week to discuss the issues, Policing Insight editor Keith Potter talks to College President Rod Jarman about the key themes, and lessons for the future.

INTERVIEW: In the last in the series of articles linked to the Policing in the Time of Pandemic workshops organised by the London Policing College, Policing Insight talks to former senior Met Police officer and crisis management / incident response specialist Roger Gomm – and poses four key questions on police operation and crises – ahead of his workshops on the issue later this week.

FEATURE: A new report by Skills for Justice underlines the significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental and physical health of police and other public sector workers; but there are some positives to be taken from the response to COVID-19.

INTERVIEW: In the fourth in a series of articles linked to this month’s Policing in the Time of Pandemic workshops organised by the London Policing College, Policing Insight talks to President of the College and former Met Police DAC Rod Jarman – and poses five key questions on the police-public relationship – ahead of his workshops on the issue later this week.

INTERVIEW: Dubai Police recently became the first force to win seven IACP awards in one year, recognised for its work in areas ranging from forensics and research to victims’ services and highway safety. Policing Insight spoke to Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, about the force’s success, its efforts to tackle challenges such as COVID-19 and transnational crime, and how high-tech and happiness are crucial elements of the force's long-term strategy.

ANALYSIS: The benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) for policing are increasingly recognised and discussed, but what about the criminal threats from such technology? Keith Potter looks at a new report from UCL’s Dawes Centre for Future Crime which highlights some of the main risks to the public from AI-related criminal activity.

ANALYSIS: Persistent poverty and profound trauma are increasingly being recognised and addressed by police and crime commissioners in their attempts to divert young adults away from the criminal justice system, according to a new review by the Revolving Doors Agency; but alongside the emerging good practice, there are still gaps in support and areas for improvement.

ANALYSIS: The latest assessment of the new Single Online Home platform shows the digital contact channel has eased the pressure on police resources while speeding up the service to the public, and redirecting thousands of enquiries to more appropriate agencies, writes Keith Potter

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: A proposed police covenant – focusing on physical protection, health and wellbeing, and support – will be extended to include serving and retired officers, staff and volunteers, as well as their families, confirms Home Secretary Priti Patel.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE: New legislation around the use of technology in policing would enable forces to have a clear understanding of the parameters, and make much more fair and effective use of systems such as facial recognition, says Met Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House QPM.

FEATURE: COVID-19 has represented a major challenge to the emergency services, but has also led to an acceleration in collaborative working; now a new survey aims to capture and share successful collaborations, as a foundation for future workforce transformation

ANALYSIS: A new report by the Revolving Doors Agency highlights the bias in the criminal justice system which leads to disproportionate numbers of young Black adults receiving cautions and convictions for low-level, non-violent crimes.

OPINION: New Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter on the success of the website to date, the challenges moving forward, and the importance of creating 'engaging, thought provoking and informative' content

INTERVIEW: In the second part of our interview with former CACP Executive Director Bill Moore, the veteran officer explores key issues including the role of the Chiefs’ Association, the legalisation of cannabis, and how analytics may have an important part to play in shaping the future of Canadian policing.

INTERVIEW: Canada’s vast landscape and diverse cultures and communities bring with them their own unique policing challenges. In the first half of a two-part interview, Bill Moore, the former head of the country’s police leaders’ association and a veteran officer with a 31-year career, provides an insight into the key issues for Canadian policing.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, Part 2: Launched in 2013, the QLiTE system is the cornerstone of Queensland Police's mobile technology services programme. Queensland Police Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll talks to Policing Insight about the benefits the system has already delivered and the possibilities for the future.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: In Australia, both the Covid-19 infection rate and the number of fatalities have been relatively low compared with other countries. In an exclusive interview with Policing Insight, the Commissioner of Queensland Police Service Katarina Carroll explains how their '3 Cs' strategy - compassion, communication and compliance - was pivotal to the success of the policing operation.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE WINNERS: An innovative public consultation process by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) was awarded Highly Commended in the World Class Policing Awards, sponsored by Accenture. In our final article on the award-winning nominations, Keith Potter takes a closer look at the online simulator which allowed community members the chance to control police budgets, allocate resources and gain a better understanding of the funding challenges.

Analysis: While many forces have trialled alternative energy vehicles, Gloucestershire Constabulary is now the trailblazer for UK policing, with electric vehicles (EVs) making up more than 20% of its fleet. Policing Insight spoke to Head of Transport Services Steve Imms about all things electric – including rural charging infrastructure, range anxiety EV response capability, and the holy grail of alternative fuelling.