INNOVATION: Children who witness domestic abuse often keep their suffering to themselves or display their feelings through 'acting out' at school. Operation Encompass is a confidential information-sharing scheme between police and schools that aims to identify children early, offering them better support and safeguarding, Syreeta Lund reports.
ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series summarises the findings of the fourth report by HMICFRS which is an update on the police response to domestic abuse (February 2019). We look at key points for policing as well as stakeholder and media reactions.
INSIGHT: Around 1 in every 200 children go missing each year, according to the Missing People charity. Many of those children are in care or on the edge of care. Syreeta Lund reports on No Wrong Door, an initiative in North Yorkshire that combines resources and skills to provide better outcomes for vulnerable young people.
ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, summarises the findings of a report by HMICFRS’ Policing and Mental Health Report, Picking Up the Pieces, published last month (Nov 27). We look at the impact on policing, recommendations as well as stakeholder and media reactions.
INSIGHT: Assaults against staff at Ashworth High Security Hospital cost the NHS nearly £400,000 in 2011. In her presentation to this year's Mental Health and Policing Conference, Merseyside Detective Constable and Mental Health Investigator Samantha Keaton explained the importance of prosecuting offenders detained in a mental health facility. Syreeta Lund reports.
ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) Ninth Report Session 2017-19 on Domestic Abuse published on October 22.
ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at the Scottish Police Authority’s report, Police Scotland Digital, Data & ICT (DDICT) Outline Business Case (OBC) published on September 27.
ANALYSIS: The latest in our Report Watch series, which summarises the findings of reports that impact policing and includes responses from the main stakeholders as well as media reaction, takes a look at HMICFRS’ Joint Inspection of the Handling of Cases Involving Disability Hate Crime and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, published this month (October 18).
ANALYSIS: The imminent release of sex attacker John Worboys has re-focused the spotlight on how the criminal justice system investigates and prosecutes rapes cases. Conviction rates are improving, but are still very low and many more rapes remain unreported. Syreeta Lund takes a look at why this is and what needs to change.
PCC INTERVIEW: A third of police time in Kent is spent dealing with mental health issues, a pattern replicated across the country. Kent PCC Matthew Scott is the deputy portfolio lead on mental health for the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC). He speaks to Syreeta Lund about some of the challenges.
Analysis: There is still a lack of understanding and support around the transgender community. While newspapers feature flippant headlines about gender neutral toilets, those who are transgender have to deal with the sometimes devastating consequences of others' misunderstanding. But some police forces are at the vanguard of a more inclusive approach. Syreeta Lund writes.
Interview: Innovative work in Scotland has helped drastically drive down rates of violence, including knife crime. As England’s capital sees sharp increases in gun and knife crime, around 42 and 24 per cent, according to recent figures released by the Metropolitan Police, can Scotland's experience shed light on how to tackle such a devastating crime? Will Linden, Acting Director at the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) which works with Police Scotland, speaks to Policing Insight.
Analysis: Dr Alistair Norman, lecturer in information management at Leeds University Business School, discussed the latest technological solutions around public safety communications at the recent B-APCO 2017 conference, including the drivers, barriers and trends for the future.
News Feature: Forces need to prepare for another surge in hate crime and make sure victims are confident to report incidents as the deadline approaches for invoking Article 50 this month and Britain negotiates its exit from the European Union, according to a national charity tackling the issue across the UK.
Interview: As deaths in custody have reduced, the general trend for suicides following custody has increased. Can the national strategy on police custody help forces protect vulnerable people? Syreeta Lund speaks to Surrey chief constable Nick Ephgrave, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on custody.
News insight: Collaborative working has been hailed as the way forward, but not all projects come to fruition. Syreeta Lund talks to PCC Sue Mountstevens about why her force has abandoned plans to share back office processes with two other forces.
interview: The sight of drug addicts huddled in the shadows or of streets littered with used syringes is hardly a vision of utopia. After 30 years as a police officer, rising through the ranks to inspector, Arfon Jones, now Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, has plenty of first-hand experience seeing the ravages of drug use on both individuals and local communities.
